Earlier this month Minister of State Peter Burke confirmed that the Department of Children is in discussions with the owner of Middleton Park about accommodating international protection applicants at the former wedding venue the Westmeath Examiner reported.
In a statement released to the Westmeath Examiner, the Castletown Geoghegan Village Steering Group said the community is “shocked and outraged” to learn that a large number of International Protection Applicants may be accommodated at Middleton Park.
In correspondence with the group, Minister Burke said: “I have put the concerns of residents to the Department of Children who have advised that negotiations are ongoing with the owners of Middleton Park, Castletown Geoghegan and that there is the potential to accommodate up to 244 International Protection Applicants there.”
Given that the population of Castletown Geoghegan is only 141 people, this would mean that the native Irish inhabitants of the Westmeath town would instantly become a minority with over 60% of the population then being asylum seekers.
The Liberal contacted Middleton Park regarding the plans but other than confirming the property was for sale they would offer no confirmation or denial of talks with the government to repurpose the venue into a migrant plantation.
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