Irish anti-migrant mobilisation enters 'more organised phase'
A new report from Institute for Strategic Dialogue, has found what began as scattered, localised protests in late 2022, has evolved into an "increasingly structured and internationally connected movement".
It says this mobilisation is "characterised by street protests, intimidation, targeted violence and coordinated amplification online".
According to the ISD, the 2024 Coolock protests marked a "major escalation" in anti-migrant mobilisation.
It also says that there is "emerging colloboration" between groups in the North that would not have traditionally operated together.
"Traditionally, nationalist and loyalist constituencies have operated in ideological opposition with distinct identities ... Emerging collaboration between actors on either side of the border marks a significant shift in the political landscape suggesting that shared perceived grievances can override older sectarian fault lines," it states.
It said this overlap between Republic-based nationalist activists and Northern Irish Loyalist networks "laid the groundwork" for further collaboration seen in the Ballymena protests last month.
The Institue also says Ireland's anti-migrant mobilisation is also being increasingly amplified online by far-right networks across Britain, Europe and north America.
It says with 10.8 million followers on X, Conor McGregor remains "the most significant domestic amplifier of this content", using his social media platform to "lend mainstream credibility to far-right rhetoric".
It states that Russian-aligned propaganda outlets are also actively engaged in promoting polarising and anti-migrant content here.
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