Meelick, County Clare 3.14

Meelick is a small village in County Clare, Ireland, situated a few kilometres north of Limerick in the Midwest region.HistoryFrom 1956, the area was home to 161 Hungarian refugees fleeing the Soviet repression in that country (see 1956 Hungarian Revolution). They were housed in Knockalisheen Camp, a disused army barracks dating from the Emergency. In 1957, complaints and disputes between the refugees and the authorities over living conditions and enforced idleness led to a mass hunger strike. After three days, the Dáil and the Irish Red Cross negotiated an end to the strike. By the summer of 1958, most of the refugees were allowed to move to Germany and the USA while a few chose to remain in Ireland. During their stay at the camp, the 51 children attended the local St Munchin's Girls' School where they were taught both the English and Irish languages. Since the 1990s the camp has again been used to house asylum seekers, now mostly from African countries.CommunityThere is a thriving GAA club, Scout Group and other local amenities such as a community centre, tavern, shop etc.