Galway hotel fire: Irish police probe inferno that tore through 19th Century Georgian venue that was set to house 70 asylum seekers - as blaze was sparked just hours after protesters formed blockade outside

An inferno ripped through a 19th Century Georgian country hotel last night in Galway, as police confirm they are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire.

It comes just hours after protesters gathered outside the Ross Lake House hotel, Rosscahill, amid concerns about migrants in the area.

The elegant hotel has not been used in a number of years, but was due to accommodate 70 asylum seekers this week.

The fire broke out at approximately 11.35pm and nobody was inside the building when it was engulfed in flames.

Fire services brought the fire under control and a technical examination of the site is set to take place later today.

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, for Dublin West, described the incident as a 'disgraceful act.' 

He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'Deeply disturbing news from Galway last night. Politicians across the board should condemn this disgraceful act and the fear mongering that led to it.'

Hours before, protesters formed a blockade outside the entrance to the hotel in opposition to the Government's plans to house asylum seekers there.

It comes one month after riots broke out in Dublin following a horrifying knife attack that saw three children and a woman injured. 

The attacker was confirmed to be a man, originally from Algeria, who acquired Irish citizenship and has been living in the country for the last 20 years.

As many as 500 thugs gathered close to some of the city's most iconic locations, some waving flags and brandishing signs reading 'Irish Lives Matter'.

Shocking scenes saw police officers attacked, with around 50 sustaining injuries, while buses and a tram were torched, with one driver punched and dragged from his cab.

A fire was started on the ground floor of a Holiday Inn Express following rumours that migrants were staying there.

The Mail recently revealed there were more than 50,000 asylum seekers in roughly 400 hotels in the UK as of June 2023, costing £8.2 million a day.

The UK Home Office had 215,518 asylum cases 'in progress' at the end of June, up 30 percent year on year. It included more than 41,000 failed asylum seekers awaiting removal.

This year 26,168 migrants have arrived in 552 small boats — 30 per cent fewer than the 37,603 that had crossed by this time last year. The Border Force had forecast that 65,000 migrants would cross the Channel in small boats this year, compared with 45,755 in 2022.

In an attempt to slash the massive bills footed by the taxpayer, sources told The Mail that Channel arrivals would no longer be housed in luxury hotels.

Instead, the UK Government proposed moving migrants to cheaper motel-style properties as part of a programme to permanently close 100 migrant hotels by the end of March 2024. 

Gardaí, Ireland's National Police and Security Service, say they are investigating this as an incident of criminal damage.

A spokesperson for Gardaí police said: 'Gardaí are investigating a criminal damage incident by fire which occurred at a premises in Rosscahill, Co.Galway on Saturday, 17th December 2023.

'The incident happened at around 11.35pm and afterwards fire services brought the fire under control.

'There were no persons inside the building at the time of the incident.

'The scene has been preserved and a technical examination will take place later today.

'Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact them at Clifden Garda Station 095 22500 the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station'.