YEAR IN REVIEW FEATURE: Modular homes plan divides Kildare residents

The proposal by the government to accommodate Ukrainians displaced by the Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine proved to be a massive point of contention in Kildare.

A number of factors have been cited by both Kildare residents and politicians as reasons why the sites were unsuitable, with occasional far-right discourse making its way into the discussion, which was criticised by local councillors.

The three main sites in Kildare that have been proposed by the Department of Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are located in Newbridge, Rathangan and Kill.

NEWBRIDGE

Things came to a head in Newbridge when it was reported back in August that Sinn Féin (SF) representatives were seeking a separate meeting with Minister Roderic O’Gorman and his department, regarding the installation of 30 modular homes at Lakeside Park, with other homes proposed for Beechgrove, Rathangan.

On August 25, over 100 people gathered at a heated meeting in the Lakeside Park/Highfield/Dara Park (LHD) area to express their concerns over modular homes for Ukrainian refugees being placed there.

The meeting was spearheaded by local resident Noreen O' Shea.

The majority of residents said they did not have an issue with the presence of Ukrainian refugees, but instead took issue with placing them in an area with issues ranging from sewage to flooding problems, concerns about lack of garda vetting, and anti-social behaviour fears.

There were also concerns about the proposed development encroaching on green space.

Many of the residents were visibly upset and frustrated by a lack of local consultation.

The lack of political representatives, aside from Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Noel Heavey and two SF representatives who appeared on behalf of Patricia Ryan TD, was widely criticised at the meeting.

The meeting subsequently led to the formation of the LHD Action Group, an organisation made up of LHD residents to put pressure on Minister O’ Gorman and his department to scrap their plans for the area.

RATHANGAN

Shortly after the Newbridge meeting, a meeting between local representatives and residents at Beechgrove in Rathangan was held in Rathangan Community Hall on August 31 last.

Between 80 and 90 people attended the meeting, which was chaired by local resident Aine Donegan, in the town’s community centre.

Cllr Mark Stafford (LEFT) and Minister Martin Heydon TD (RIGHT) were among the attendees at a public meeting in Rathangan.

Ms Donegan listed a number of reasons why the community objected to the development, which echoed similar complaints made by residents with the LHD Action Group.

Attending the meeting on the date in question were Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon and his colleague, Cllr Mark Stafford.

At the end of the meeting, the attendees were given assurance by Minister Heydon that officials with Minister O’ Gorman’s department will meet with the residents, and said that it will happen soon.

Ms Donegan also urged those in attendance to make their voices known at an upcoming peaceful protest in Newbridge, being held by the LHD Action Group.

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POSTPONEMENTS

Just two days later, the first protest was briefly postponed pending the outcome of the meeting with Minister Roderic O’ Gorman and the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Former LHD member and resident Tom McDonnell said at the time: "We have been given assurances from the Minister that no construction works will take place in the interim.

"We welcome the commitment from the Minister to engage with the LHD Action Group."

Another LHD member, Angela Ní Fhicnáigh, later told the Leinster Leader that a certain number of people planned to turn up to Ballymany (where the starting point of the planned protest was to be held) despite the postponement, but she added that the LHD Action Group 'has no affiliation with them and we distance ourselves from them.'

Then, on September 9, the group was told by Minister O’ Gorman and his department that the construction of the proposed modular homes in Newbridge had been postponed.

The proposed construction for homes in Rathangan was also postponed on September 15.

On September 20, LHD member Noreen O’Shea said in a statement that due to a lack of response from the government, the group would plan a new protest, which was later decided following a meeting held by the LHD Action Group.

A number of protests were then held by the group that went through the town of Newbridge, starting on October 1, although one of them drew criticism on social media due to the attendance of far-right figure Derek Blighe.

Mr McDonnell told the Leader at the time that the group would continue protesting 'until we get it in writing that there will be nothing built on our greens.'

CURRAGH CAMP

On October 26, Minister O' Gorman’s Dept said that it didn’t rule out refurbishing vacant buildings in the Curragh Camp for displaced Ukrainians.

Independent TD Dr Cathal Berry, who is also a former member of the Army Ranger Wing in the Defence Forces, discussed the potential refurbishment of buildings in the Curragh Camp on RTÉ Radio 1.

He said that while the buildings would be 'very palatable' to house displaced Ukrainians, he stressed that 'there needs to be communication with the local population and local community, it can only take place with their consent.'

His sentiments were echoed by Deputy Martin Heydon, who told Kildare FM radio station that he 'would expect' certain army barracks to be used to accommodate displaced Ukrainians.

On November 18, Angela Ní Fhicnáigh sent in a video to the Leinster Leader showing extensive flooding in the LHD area following heavy rainfall.

SITE IN KILL

In early November, it was revealed that another proposed site for the placement of modular homes to help displaced Ukrainians would be the former Equestrian Centre in Kill.

This drew concerns from local residents, which resulted in a consultation between local residents and politicians on November 4, similar to those seen in Rathangan and Newbridge.

Two days later, on Sunday night, November 6, a fire broke out in a shed at the back of the privately-owned Kill Equestrian Centre.

Gardaí later said that an investigation was underway into the cause of the fire.

Following the initial consultation, a number of protests were held by Kill residents during November, including one which saw 50 vehicles on Sunday, November 27, take part in a slow drive protest which left from St Brigid’s parish church in the village.

The cars travelled through Johnstown and into Naas.

A slow drive protest involving up to 50 cars against proposed modular homes, which took place in Kill back in November.