As far as I can tell, this was last week's demonstration, but I could be wrong. If it was "thousands," it was that demonstrations or the crowd figures are probably wrong.
That said, what burned two nights ago was an abandoned nursing home, not purpose-built housing. There was a rumor it would be refurbished and used for migrants. That's the word being used here now or "International Protection Applicants," which the news outlets have been told to use. This means they are not legal immigrants or Ukrainian refugees who were granted legal status and have been housed in similar places.
For the most part, other than competition for non-existent housing, the Ukrainians are not disliked. Like the Poles before them, they come from a similar, somewhat conservative, and rural culture. Most are highly educated, and they start working as soon as they can; more to the point, most are women and children.
The government made the mistake of trying to plunk down single, mainly Middle Eastern and African men, inside of small rural towns and villages (like Roscrea, where we do all our shopping, banking, etc). No one complained when 400 Ukrainian women and children were lodged in the old Mother and Baby home (yep, that one from the movie). But when the government came in and overnight took over the town's only remaining hotel, the demonstrations and pushback started.
For one thing, in Ireland, local hotels are where weddings are held, funeral wakes, conferences, charity functions (I've done charity psychic reading shows there), small concerts, antique shows, etc. A wedding in Ireland almost always includes booking a hotel for the weekend. After church, there is a two-day-long party from which no one has to drive home. It has been that way for at least the 28 years we have lived here.
So, to close a functioning hotel that is a private community center overnight was a step too far. Then the government first said it would be refugees, then admitted it would be "migrants." Then the Prime Minister started making statements (since walked back) to the effect that no town or village got to choose who got sent to live there. Even when the government backed down on the single men and moved "migrant" women and children in instead, it was too late, and the demonstrations were on. Some people were conflicted, especially older ladies. Who was protesting using the last working hotel for such things and bringing and donating toys for the small children who didn't ask to be in the middle of the mess simultaneously?
The government finally realizes it will have to build "purpose-built" centers to house these people. Still, in the middle of a housing crisis (I mean severe housing crises, Airlines and other companies are starting to buy or build company towns in Dublin), even that is likely to get a lot of opposition. Why not make more shelters for homeless Irish families? By Tradition (because of the Potato Famine), the government must put a roof over everyone's head, especially every child. Taxpayers here expect that, but several governments have turned that over to the private sector and stopped building public housing for several decades. The results are coming home to roost; at the same time, we have the migration crises (though not as severe here as in much of Europe).
OK, that is long enough; sorry, it is a complicated issue. I will post if there is more to update (I'm sure there will be). But today's news is all about measles and other unrelated stuff. That can (and I'm sure will) change.
