Ireland's Far-Right is a Melting Pot of Contradictions and Hypocrisy

Anna Crowley examines the recent rise in Irish far-right activity and finds that its confused narrative falls apart under scrutiny

An Irish tricolour with the words ‘Make Ireland Great Again’ in Dublin, 7 October 2025. Photo: Brendan Donnelly/Alamy

The right vs. left political divide is a relatively new phenomenon in Ireland compared to the rest of the world. But last month, the growing polarisation in Irish politics was on full display. Catherine Connolly, an independent left candidate, won the presidential election after gaining a record-breaking percentage of first-preference votes. In the same week, there were several nights of violent anti-immigration riots in Citywest, Dublin.

Although the rise in the far-right and fascism is a global phenomenon, it is important to consider the context of each country. While Ireland is seen as a country that has usually been on the ‘right side of history’ (usually being the key word here – our assistance in the colonisation of places like Monserrat and Nigeria are not nearly recognised enough, for example), the presence of the far-right is not new. From the IRA’s links with Nazi Germany to Eoin O’Duffy’s Blueshirts, who historian Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc argues was the largest non-governing fascist force in the world at the time, Ireland’s relationship with the far-right is unique both in the past and in the present and must be treated as such.

In particular, the arguments made by Ireland’s far-right are distinctive in their contradictory and hypocritical basis. The far-right often use ‘Republicanism’ as an excuse for their actions. Justin Barrett, who has call Hitler the ‘greatest leader of all time’, launched the new far-right group Clann Éireann and its protection unit An Sciath Nasiúnta at Béal na mBláth last year, famously the place where Michael Collins was killed. They accuse asylum seekers of being ‘planters’ which is inspired by our history of fighting against British plantations, but which in today’s context, sounds an awful lot like the racist Great Replacement Theory. They fly the tricolour, a symbol of peace and cross-community building, all while spewing hatred that those who fought for our independence would be ashamed of.