Dublin, April 26, 2025 – Thousands gathered in Dublin city center on Saturday for an anti-immigration protest, which organizers described as a commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising to honor Ireland’s fight for independence. The event, starting at 2 p.m. at the Garden of Remembrance, saw participants waving Irish Tricolour flags, wearing “Make Ireland Great Again” caps, and chanting slogans such as “get them out” and “Sinn Féin are traitors.” Signs with messages like “Irish Lives Matter” were displayed, and copies of the 1916 Proclamation were distributed.
Speakers at the protest included Dublin city councillors Malachy Steenson, Gavin Pepper, Philip Sutcliffe, and Fingal councillor Patrick Quinlan of the National Party. They criticized the Irish government’s immigration policies, highlighting issues such as housing shortages and economic challenges. Pepper called for prioritizing Irish citizens and addressing the reported 15,500 people in emergency accommodation.
Simultaneously, a counter-protest organized by United Against Racism, supported by opposition parties including Sinn Féin, Labour, People Before Profit, Social Democrats, the Socialist Party, and the Green Party, began at 1:30 p.m. at the GPO on O’Connell Street. Approximately 1,000 counter-protesters chanted “refugees are welcome” and held signs reading “Stand Against Racism.”
Tensions arose as the two groups crossed paths, with some verbal confrontations reported. A significant Garda presence, including the Public Order Unit, Air Support Unit, and Mounted Support Unit, maintained separation between the groups, ensuring the events remained largely peaceful. Three arrests were made for public order offenses.
The anti-immigration march disrupted Dublin’s city center, halting bus services and redirecting traffic. Public figures also weighed in on the events. In a social media video, Conor McGregor expressed support for the anti-immigration protest, framing it as a tribute to Easter Rising heroes and a response to government shortcomings, though he was not visibly present. Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the protest’s “negativity,” emphasizing that modern Ireland offers significant opportunities and that policy changes should be pursued through elections.
The demonstrations highlighted deep divisions over immigration policy in Ireland, with both sides drawing significant crowds to express their views.