A number of streets around Leinster House in Dublin were closed off to traffic on Thursday morning as dozens of people gathered calling for an end to “mass illegal immigration” into Ireland.
Pedestrian access to Kildare Street was halted by gardaí as around 100 people gathered on Molesworth Street carrying signs saying ‘Irish Lives Matter’ and ‘Ireland says no’ and calling for an end to the State’s “open door” immigration policy.
A large Garda presence prevented the crowd from approaching the gates of Leinster House, while support units were posted around Government Buildings. It is understood that the force was expecting some of those involved in organising, or who participated in, a controversial far-right protest at Leinster House in September to attend.
Clíona Flynn from Clondalkin, who has taken part in a number of similar protests and is a member of the South Dublin Says No group, said all protesters were “peaceful” and that despite some “shouting and roaring we don’t come here to incite violence”.
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“This protest is purely against the illegal immigration in this country of undocumented men,” she said.
“We’re not here because of the women and children,” she said when asked if she was protesting the presence of women asylum seekers in Ireland.
Ms Flynn said her community was concerned about the number of emergency accommodation centres for “undocumented men” opening in Clondalkin. “Most of the people we’ve spoken to say they’re fleeing their country but they come from safe countries. They’re economic migrants, not refugees.”
Pauline Greer, who said she volunteers at a homeless food kitchen in the city centre, said she was not protesting the presence of Ukrainians in the country.
“This is not about race, it’s about culture. I don’t have an issue with their culture or beliefs but I do have an issue being told I have to modify my culture, get rid of our religious statues.”
A man standing nearby holding an Irish Tricolour, who said his name was Brian and declined to give his surname, said he was not protesting “race or religion” before adding that he was not happy with the presence of Muslim communities in Ireland.
“We don’t have any border security, we’re wide open. The people who come here don’t assimilate.”
A number of demonstrators challenged the single counter protester at the event – an older woman holding a “racists out” sign – spraying water in her face. Later, towards the end of the protest, she was knocked to the ground by another woman who confronted her. Gardaí moved in to defuse the situation, escorting the apparent assailant away.
A Garda spokeswoman said there were no arrests at the protest.
During the rally, one man encouraged people who had stayed at home to attend future protests in Dublin and around the country, including another planned for outside Leinster House next month.
“Most people are locked in a mainstream haze…they follow rugby, football, Formula One…they have things now where people slap each other, UFC…people get lost in this nonsense, you know, whether it’s Dancing on Ice or Coronation Street whatever, you know, lost souls,” he said.
“What we’re telling them is like an upside down and inside out reality and we scare them sometimes, so maybe sometimes baby gloves, you know?”
