Galway Bay fm newsroom - A major protest is underway at a former hotel in Oughterard which locals fear may be set to be transformed into a direct provision centre.
Several hundred people have been peacefully picketing at the former Connemara Gateway Hotel, several kilometres outside the town, since the early hours.
It follows a march through Oughterard over the weekend, which was attended by up to a thousand people, voicing opposition to any establishment of a direct provision centre.
Many are keen to stress their issue is with the direct provision system, and not those who are seeking asylum - as well as the alleged 'secrecy' surrounding the situation.
It's also claimed that Oughterard does not have the infrastructure or services in place to deal with a large influx of asylum seekers to the area.
Councillor Seamus Walsh says this morning's protest is a peaceful one.
