International far-right groups have drawn inspiration from extremist attacks targeting migrants in Ireland, according to an organisation that tracks far-right movements worldwide.
A report by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (Gpahe), obtained by BreakingNews.ie, states: “The violence against migrants has made Ireland of particular interest to the international far right, who view the unrest and protests as an inspiration or an example of the white rage festering below the surface as they are forced to endure the indignity of living with unwanted migrants. Images from the 2025 unrest, like masked participants charging police lines on horseback, have been spread across far-right Telegram channels in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and across Europe”, reports Breaking News.
The report cautions that while Ireland’s far-right “may be small in both size and power compared to many of its European contemporaries”, it “nonetheless occupies a significant position as a place of motivation and inspiration for far-right actors and broader anti-immigration movement”.
It outlines how developments such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage and the abortion referendum saw the far-right begin to “gain a foothold” in Ireland, reports Breaking News.
This trend was further fuelled by anti-lockdown activism and Covid-19 conspiracy theories that emerged during pandemic restrictions.
The report explains: “Many of Ireland’s far-right groups are influenced by American far-right extremists, as they have imported conspiracy theories about “cultural Marxism” and the white supremacist “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory that were popularized in the US. To date, none of these groups have had any real electoral success, but are active in attempts to stir up hatred and fear in communities”, reports Breaking News.
Gpahe also highlights efforts by far-right parties in Ireland to unite under what it described as the ‘National Alliance’.
“This has come to include a swath of small political parties that banded together in 2024 in what they called the National Alliance. While this was a strong showing of unity from the country’s typically fragmented far-right that managed to bring together political parties with xenophobic and discriminatory platforms like the National Party, Ireland First, The Irish People, and several independent candidates, the coalition failed to produce a significant turnout at polling stations and eventually fell apart.
“Outside of the ballot box, the subject of immigration has been mobilizing for the far right, as a handful of smaller groups that target immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community have emerged. Many of these groups use the long history of the Irish people and the Catholic Church to provide religious and cultural justifications for targeting immigrant communities. Others invoke the specter of Hitler’s National Socialism to justify their hatred”, reports Breaking News.
The report concludes that anti-immigration sentiment has now taken the place of Covid-19 conspiracy theories as the dominant issue.
“Under the banner of ‘Ireland is full,’ and similar xenophobic slogans, protests against immigration began to pick up steam in 2022. By 2023, the temperature in the country around the issue had risen significantly. Combined with a critical housing crisis, these issues have allowed the far right to make more headway into the country”, reports Breaking News.
The report specifically references violent anti-immigrant demonstrations outside Ipas centres in areas such as Ringsend, Ballymun, Finglas and Mullingar.
Gpahe said the racist ‘Great Replacement’ white supremacist theory has become widespread among anti-immigrant groups in Ireland, with many adopting the alternative term ‘Great Plantation’, reports Breaking News.
The report names several far-right anti-immigrant groups currently active in Ireland, including Anti-Corruption Ireland, Brotherhood of the Gaels, Ireland First, the Irish Freedom Party, We the People and Seed of Ireland.
Gpahe co-founder and president Wendy Via said Ireland’s consistent rejection of far-right parties at the ballot box should not be “mistaken for immunity”, reports Breaking News.
Ms Via said: “Ireland has long resisted extremist political activity, but that resilience should not be mistaken for immunity. 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,” reports Breaking News.
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