Ashbourne locals left outraged as Hotel used to house International Protection Applicants now

Ashbourne locals are left outraged as Hotel used to house International Protection Applicants is now hosting School Debs events in the nightclub of hotel

Thursday 20 February 2025, By Darren Donoghue

Picture Credit: Google Maps Street View

An Ashbourne hotel that is being used to house International Protection Applicants on a full-time basis is now believed to hosting school Debs events within the nightclub of hotel.

The Ashbourne Court Hotel located in County Meath has been used to house International Protection Applicants since 2022. Since then, the hotel has remained closed to the public.

It has now emerged that the hotel is hosting School Debs events in basement nightclub part of the hotel.

A school's Debs, also called Grad or Grads, is the formal ball for students in their final year of secondary school in the Republic of Ireland. It is associated with a specific school, which may take place during the school year, immediately after the Leaving Certificate examinations in June, or after the results are announced in August. Some schools have a smaller "pre-Debs" some months before the Debs.

Boyne News last night received footage of a telephone conversation between a local woman who had phoned The Ashbourne Court Hotel to inquire about whether or not if the School Debs was taking place below an IPAS Centre and a staff member of the Ashbourne Court hotel.

During the phone call, it was confirmed by the member of staff of the hotel that Debs events are being held in the nightclub of the hotel that is located “underneath” the building where the International Protection Applicants are being housed.

The news about the hotel hosting School Debs, while also housing International Protection Applicants has shocked and angered many locals.

One local source told Boyne News:

“I’m furious at the Ashbourne Court and their lowering the standards for children and taking the money over the safety of children, when they must be cogent of the fact of the crime that is going on around the village.

“I used to go to the village with my little lad, now it’s not comfortable for us to go there. The amount of young girls that are being followed. There has been several violent attacks and robberies.

“Last Sunday morning a young woman was working in one of the local shops. The shop was robbed, and she was attacked. She suffered a broken eye-socket during the robbery and needed medical treatment. She was attacked and all that was taken was a packet of cigarettes.”

Jean Murray of the National Party gave us her thoughts about the situation in Ashbourne,

“Ashbourne consists of a majority of young families with school going children and teens.

“Ashbourne Court Hotel used to be a great venue for teens and young adults to socialise. My own kids aged 29 and 35 enjoyed the nightlife there.

“Since it was turned into an IPAS Centre, all discos were stopped. Now, the hotel moved in immigrants and intends to run it as a social venue and a direct provision centre.

“The current migrants coming into Ireland are men between 25 and 35.

“Hosting debs dances while this is a direct provision centre will place young girls in volatile and potentially dangerous situations.

“This should be opposed by all local councillors and TD’s”

The Ashbourne Court Hotel gave the Following statement to Boyne News :

Yes, we have IPAS residents staying in the hotel, we have had IPAS familiy only & Ukranian family only residents in this property for the last 3 years this is not a new development.

"Fogartys gastro bar has been closed for almost 2 years and is only used on key dates, it never fully recovered after covid, We do operate this bar when needed and at our own discretion.

"We host many different events in our night club and live music venue , all events are private and separate to the hotel. We have hosted corporate events, debs balls, ty balls, 21st, 30th birthdays , christenings and many more over the last 3 years, again this is not something that has just started,we have continued to use the facilities that we have as best as we can.

"We would like to point out that there is no access to our nightclub from our current hotel operations. Our club has a separate entrance that is restricted not only securely by access doors but also with licenced security that are present at every event, No event will be run without the presence of a security team. The hotel is treated completely separately from our venue downstairs. There is a big separation between the two.

"Our operational team are hospitality professionals, irrespective of the hotels current status we operate a very we’ll organised and professional business that employs almost 400 people group wide , the main body of our employees are Irish, we operate in all areas of hospitality, food & beverage & events across multiple venues & sites."

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