Ireland at the Crossroads
Lisdoonvarna, Direct
Provision and the Far Right
"... part diary, part
eyewitness testament, part community how-to guide. But mostly it is a rallying
call for active citizenship. It’s also a warning about the
personal consequences of speaking out in a growing climate of hate – and the
even graver societal consequences of staying silent." - Neil Leslie,
editor of the Irish Daily Star
As concerns develop about the growing number of protests outside Direct Provision centres, Orpen Press announces the publication of Ireland at the Crossroads: Lisdoonvarna, Direct Provision and the Far Right by Theresa O’Donohoe, exploring the rise of the far right in Ireland over the past five years.
In February 2018, confusion,
anger, and division set in as news leaked that a Direct Provision centre for
115 asylum seekers was being opened in Lisdoonvarna. Stories of robbery and
rape, along with videos of riots and destruction, were fuelling racism and
hatred. Wires were crossed, anger was rising and feelings were mixed as the
community responded to the news.
The far right spotted an
opportunity and moved in to stoke up fears and tensions, while ordinary people
tried to balance their desire to help asylum seekers with their concerns about
the lack of consultation from the government and worries about inadequate
supports.
The pattern has been
repeated around the country, including Oughterard, Moville, Roosky, East Wall,
Ballymun and elsewhere. In Ireland at the Crossroads: Lisdoonvarna, Direct
Provision and the Far Right, local community activist Theresa O’Donohoe
traces the ways in which the far right co-opted legitimate concerns about a
lack of consultation and the housing crisis, twisting narratives to feed their
own agendas and fuel racism. She explores the links between those leading the
Direct Provision protests and other far-right issues, such as Covid denial,
freedom and ‘patriotism’, and how, if not confronted, fascism will grow in this
country.
Ireland at the Crossroads is required reading for anyone wondering how the land of 100,000 welcomes got to here, and what to do about it. Ireland at the Crossroads is available now for €15 from all good bookshops and www.orpenpress.com.
Theresa O’Donohoe is a qualified mediator and sustainable community development
facilitator. She has lived in Lisdoonvarna since 2015. She played a lead role
in facilitating the community response to the opening of a Direct Provision
centre in Lisdoonvarna and was personally targeted by the far right for her
stance. This book is her story, setting the record straight.
The author is available now for interview.
For further information contact Gerry or Eileen
info@orpenpress.com │ +353 (0)85 780 0002 │www.orpenpress.com
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