Five families in the North Clare village of Bellharbour have been told to move out of their homes just days before Christmas because the properties have been deemed unsafe.
The instruction for residents at Abbey West has come from the reeciver of the homes, Ernst and Young, who have declared them unsafe after they found health and safey concerns.
Families were handed the notice to vacate on Tuesday, including artist and musician Jim McKee who had just returned to his house with his son.
People affected met with the Hub Galway last night, and Jim says they were told of similar situations in other parts of the country as well.
In a statement, EY receiver Marcus Purcell said they issued the notices to vacate because the homes had failed fire safety standards.
He has pointed out that EY will fund alterntive accomodation, and insists they did not take the decision lightly, particularly at this time of the year, but that they considered the safety of occupiers to be the priority.
