Councillorsangryat ‘racist’accusations

January 1995

Members of Wexford Co. Council criticised the national media last week for indirectly implying that the residents of Drumgoold in Enniscorthy are racist.

Cllr Sean Doyle, who is himself a resident in the Drumgoold area, said that the national media were reasonably fair but in some instances the people of Drumgoold were painted as racists and fascists.

‘ There are more Travellers living in Drumgoold for its size than any other part of the county,’ he said, adding that in the past, the people of the area were not opposed to allowing Travellers into their community.

He went on to add that the residents of Drumgoold are an oppressed people who have ‘violence heaped upon them’. ‘ Their children are beaten up, their crops are trampled,’ he said, adding that he knew of another incident where a resident was approached by a Traveller in Mass and was told ‘we’re going to get you’.

Cllr. Peter Byrne also defended the people of Drumgoold saying that certain newspapers had insulted the people of Drumgoold and Enniscorthy by implying that ‘ethnic cleansing’ was being carried out.

Meanwhile, Cllr. Sean Doyle also noted that he had certain reservations about the spending of taxpayers money on the building of halting sites for these people who don’t pay any taxes.

‘ These people are wealthy enough to build their own sites. I would say to them to build their own sites and get themselves off the road,’ he said.

Cllr. Padge Reck agreed, noting that certain Travellers can afford to erect ‘mini Taj Mahals’ in local cemeteries which settled people could never afford.

He added that pressure is put on the Council to provide accommodation for one sector of the community while settled people are on housing waiting lists for years.

He also cited an incident where two travelling families were offered house but refused them