DUBLIN'S NEW LUXURY HOTEL THE LEINSTER FACED WITH REFUGEE CRISIS HEAD ON

The Leinster Hotel opened its doors for the first time just over a month ago billing itself as Ireland's first luxury lifestyle hotel.

However just a few short weeks later, it seems that the extensive renovations on the 55-bedroom Georgian building, that boasts some 300 pieces of art by more than 80 artists hanging on its walls, is being impacted by the hugely distressing refugee crisis here in Ireland.

Just before the launch of The Leinster, hundreds of desperate refugees were forced to pitch tents all along Mount Street, outside the Department of International Protection and beside the new establishment, due to a severe lack of housing for them in this country.

The area close to the hotel was largely unsanitised, it was also dangerous, leaving these vulnerable people exposed to the threats of anti-immigration protestors and heavily reliant on the goodwill of donors to keep going.

Then, in March - just before The Leinster opened- these refugees were moved by order of the department, to a different site on the outskirts of West Dublin, clearing the city's streets of the tents that were a very visible reminder of the devastating saga that is utterly engulfing the world right now.

With the streets cleared and the pristine image of the Georgian buildings and modern offices restored to the area, the official launch of The Leinster in March could only be viewed as a huge success.

As well as media outlets covering the event, many celebrities and influencers turned up to sample the specially curated cocktail menu at the Collins Club, where subdued red lighting offers a unique and relaxing experience, for catching up with friends or getting better acquainted with a romantic interest.

Then, to the rooftop, where the renowned French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has chosen to open his first foray in Ireland.

Room rates in The Leinster start at €300 per night, and given the fact that it is an experience rather than a simple sleepover the hotel can command such prices.

However, since the refugees on Mount Street were moved along back in March, many have started to make their way back to Dublin city centre.

Despite the promise of safe and comfortable accommodation, many refugees claim that they were subjected to abuse, there has been talk of completely inadequate basic facilities and they have been taken away from the only support structure they have come to know here in Ireland.

Within days of the original tent village being demolished and the whole area being washed down, tents started to appear once again outside the offices of the officials who bare responsibility for these people.

The makeshift homes are multiplying by the day, to the point that now, there are tents erected directly outside the door of The Leinster. There is literally no way that guests or patrons can miss what is literally going on on the doorstep.

With the voices of the protesters on both sides of the immigration argument being largely ignored, it remains to be seen if the economic impact will have any baring on how the government decides to move forward with this crisis.

The only thing that is for sure though, there hasn't been a more cruel juxtaposition of wealth and wellbeing beside poverty and sheer desperation than what is happening on Mount Street in Dublin right now.