The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) today released an updated edition of its Ireland Country Report, documenting how far-right extremism in Ireland has evolved since the organization’s original 2022 analysis. While Ireland has historically proven resistant to far-right political movements, the report finds that recent years have brought increased activity, with anti-immigrant mobilization, disinformation, and serious episodes of violence reshaping the country’s far-right landscape. The report finds these developments have been shaped by the influence of the U.S. far-right rhetoric and policy models, including the adoption of the white supremacist “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, as well as the spread of anti-LGBTQ+ narratives that reject gender recognition laws, same-sex marriage, and reproductive rights. These narratives have been actively promoted by far-right parties and groups as part of broader efforts to dismantle human rights and recruit new supporters. These themes have been reinforced by Trump’s messaging that normalized racist and anti-immigrant language and are now echoed and adapted by Irish extremist groups.
The updated report details the growth in the anti-immigrant movement since 2020, alongside growing neo-Nazi activity. These movements have sought to weaponize Irish national identity and history in order to advance their racist and xenophobic agendas.
“Ireland has long resisted extremist political activity, but that resilience should not be mistaken for immunity,” said Wendy Via, co-founder of GPAHE. “What we are seeing now is a movement that exploits public anxiety, and moments of crisis, to normalize xenophobia and, in some cases, incite violence against vulnerable communities.”
The report traces how during the pandemic, conspiracy theories and anti-lockdown protests helped elevate extremist influencers, who later pushed their audiences toward anti-immigrant organizing. This trend has caused an escalation of violence linked to far-right disinformation, with false claims about refugee housing fueling arson attacks, assaults, and riots, including the November 2023 Dublin riot, where violence escalated into unrest involving an estimated 500 people. where violence escalated into unrest involving an estimated 500 people. Authorities arrested 34 individuals following widespread property destruction, arson, and assaults across the city.
GPAHE’s analysis shows that incidents targeting alleged migrant accommodations rose sharply between late 2023 and mid-2024, as images of clashes with police during protests by far-right groups circulated widely across international extremist networks, where Ireland is increasingly framed as a symbol of anti-immigrant resistance.
“The violence we document in this updated report is not spontaneous,” said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of GPAHE. “It reflects a wider global escalation in far-right extremism, from Europe to the United States, where hateful rhetoric is localized, and weaponized. These protests are organized, driven by far-right actors who deliberately spread false narratives to create fear, unrest, and position themselves as defenders of a threatened national identity.”
The updated report profiles a range of far-right political parties and extremist organizations operating across Ireland. These include the National Party, Ireland First, and The Irish People, which have sought electoral relevance through xenophobic and anti-LGBTQ+ platforms, as well as newer groupings such as Sinnè na Daoine (We the People) and Clann Éireann (Irish Family), which blend street-level activism with openly neo-fascist ideology. GPAHE finds that their messaging continues to circulate widely through social media, encrypted platforms, and global networks.
The research also details the presence of white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups, including Comhaltas na nGaedheal (Brotherhood of the Gaels), Ireland’s branch of the international white supremacist Active Club network. It also examines groups such as The Countess, a transphobic organization dedicated to fighting against Ireland’s legal provisions for transgender people. Taken together, these cases illustrate how Ireland’s far right translates online agitation into real-world harm.
Ireland’s far-right trajectory is increasingly dangerous. Without sustained efforts to counter disinformation, transnational extremist networks, and the conditions these groups exploit, Ireland risks further normalization of violent and racist ideologies, and continued violence against vulnerable communities.
The updated Ireland Country Report provides detailed profiles of 13 active organizations, tracks emerging trends, and analyzes the ongoing risks posed by far-right mobilization in Ireland. This is the latest in GPAHE’s ongoing series documenting the growth and transnational nature of far-right extremist movements.
Read the full report here.
