Latest news with #MalachySteenson
Spectator
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
What Micheal Martin gets wrong about the 1916 proclamation
As thousands of protesters thundered through central Dublin over Easter weekend, waving a sea of tricolour flags, Ireland's anti-immigration movement staked a bold claim. The legacy of the Easter Rising martyrs – who underwrote with their lives the founding of the Irish state – was theirs. 'We will be a true following on from our forefathers in 1916 who had a workers' revolution,' declared Malachy Steenson, a Dublin councillor and nationalist leader. This fusion of grassroots nationalism and potent revolutionary symbols powered the largest demonstration yet. A genie was out of the bottle, and the establishment took notice. It provoked a bitter historical tug-of-war as the government, mindful of the symbolic power of Ireland's formative heroes, scrambled to reclaim them.
Irish Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Three arrested for public order offences at Dublin anti-immigration protest
Three people were arrested for public order offences during a large anti-immigration march and counter demonstration in Dublin city centre on Saturday. The arrests were understood to be for minor matters, including failing to follow the direction of a garda. Despite the large numbers involved, the events passed off mostly peacefully. 'No major incidents of note occurred,' a garda spokesman said. Large numbers of gardaí maintained a cordon around the demonstrations and successfully prevented contact between the two groups. READ MORE The Garda Public Order Unit and Mounted Support Unit, along with a helicopter from the Garda Air Support Unit, were present throughout the day. The anti-immigration protest, described by organisers as an Easter Rising commemoration to pay respect to 'those who fought and gave their lives to preserve the Irish nation and create the Irish Republic', began at 2pm at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square. Thousands of people took part in an anti-immigration rally in Dublin, with a counter demonstration also taking place. Video: Sarah Burns United Against Racism – supported by a number of organisations and members of Opposition parties including Sinn Féin , Labour , People Before Profit , the Social Democrats , the Socialist Party and the Green Party – hosted a counter-protest at the nearby GPO at 1.30pm. There were some hostile and aggressive interactions between protesters as the anti-immigration rally passed by the antiracism demonstration at the GPO. The United Against Racism demonstration saw those gathered carry signs reading Stand Against Racism while chanting 'refugees are welcome' and 'whose streets – our streets'. [ Thousands take part in anti-immigration protest in Dublin Opens in new window ] The anti-immigration protest travelled down to Custom House Quay, with anti-immigrant speakers including Dublin city councillors Malachy Steenson, Gavin Pepper and Philip Sutcliffe as well as Fingal councillor Patrick Quinlan of the far-right National Party . Cllr Steenson spoke of 'really exciting times' and how 'we have moved this project on hugely'. He said Independent councillors such as himself and cllrs Pepper and Sutcliffe, who won seats on Dublin City Council last year, were using them to 'push forward our message that this country should be run by its people for its people'. Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor posted a video of himself and his family at the Garden of Remembrance in advance of the anti-immigration protest. In a post on X, Mr McGregor said it was 'a big day here for our country' and that the rally was to commemorate 'the valiant heroes who went before us'. He said the protest was also to 'shine our light on the failure of Ireland's Government and our full disapproval of it'. However, he did not address the crowd or take any visible part in the protest once it started.
BreakingNews.ie
26-04-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Clashes expected as anti-immigration protest set for Dublin city centre
Tensions are likely to run high as anti-immigration protestors clash with counter-demonstrators in Dublin city centre on Saturday. The capital city is set to witness a significant anti-immigration protest, with thousands expected to gather at the Garden of Remembrance at 2pm. Advertisement The protest is expected to be met with counter-demonstrations from various groups advocating for anti-racism and immigrant rights. These groups include political parties Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and the Socialist Party, as well as trade unions, tenant unions, and civil society and community groups. View this post on Instagram A post shared by People Before Profit (@people_before_profit) Speaking to the Irish Alliance, protest organiser and Dublin City Councillor Malachy Steenson said: "We are holding a national rally, both to commemorate those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom for centuries past and also as a rally against government policy on housing, health, education, all this diversity nonsense and anything else that this government is currently at. The whole myriad of things that this government is out to destroy the country with. "So we're calling on anybody who believes this country is being run for the benefit of a very small minority and is not being run for the benefit of our people, they should come along. Advertisement "Just to remind people - this is a peaceful protest and rally. This will be men, women, and children, young and old, workers and unemployed, right across the spectrum in this country." Taking to Instagram, People Before Profit Cllr Darragh Adelaide said: "On the 26th of APril, United Against Racism has called a counter protest against a far right, anti-immigration demonstration that is happening in Dublin. "When these anti-immigration protests happen, it creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation for people of colour, for migrants, for asylum seekers, and you only have to look at the organisers to understand why. "You have Malachy Steenson, who wants to roll back abortion rights, who happily stands side-by-side with abusive grifters like Conor McGregor and the Fox News millionaire Tucker Carlson. "The far right demonstration at the Garden of Rememberance has been endorsed by the National Party whose former leader has been quoted saying Hitler was the greatest leader of all time and he said on his Twitter account that someone needs to speak up on behalf of the ordinary decent Irish racist." MMA fighter Conor McGregor is reportedly in attendance at the Garden of Rememberance alongside his family. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @theirishalliance
