03-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Anti immigration and counter rally passes off peacefully in Donegal but businesses left counting costs over road closure
Around 1,200 people attended an anti-immigration protest on Saturday afternoon, which was met by a counter demonstration organised by the group United Against Racism Donegal on Letterkenny Main street.
There was a significant Garda presence in Letterkenny, particularly along the Main Street as the two groups met adjacent to each other at the Market Square.
Gardaí from the Armed Support Unit and The Public Order Unit were spread out throughout the town while the Air Support Unit observed from a helicopter above.
The protests passed off peacefully with no major incidents or arrests being reported.
A Garda spokesperson said, 'Gardaí attended two public gatherings in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, this afternoon Saturday 3rd May 2025.
'A man (30s) who was arrested for public order offences has since been released without charge.
'The events passed off peacefully and attendees have since dispersed.'
'Rally Against Racism' was organised by the United Against Racism Donegal group and began after 12 noon with around 250 people in attendance.
Speakers included former TD Thomas Pringle, Donegal County Councillor Declan Meehan and Dr Dineo Moiloa.
Senator Eileen Flynn also spoke during the rally and told the crowd the Irish flag stands for an 'Ireland for all' and added the country 'is a place of peace and equality.'
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn more
The Rally Against Racism was concluded and dispersed while the second rally was still underway.
The second rally 'Letterkenny Peaceful Assembly/Protest Against Illegal Immigration' was organised by a group who are raising concerns about illegal immigration.
The group gathered at the Bus Station and from there, around 1,200 people carrying tricolour flags marched through the town to the Market Square.
Marching through the streets of Letterkenny, the protestors shouted 'whose streets? Our streets'.
The march was diverted up Church Lane to the back of the Market Square to avoid a direct meeting of the two groups.
The march concluded with speeches at the Market Square where participants held up signs with anti-government slogans.
Speeches were delivered by former election candidate Kim McMenamin and protest organisers Ciaran Tourish and Fabio Cinquemani.
Mr Tourish thanked the crowd for turning out and said Ireland has always been a welcoming country. He added the protest was about the people who run the country and how they have 'forgotten who they represent.'
The rally concluded with a number of singers taking to the stage.
Letterkenny Main Street was closed from Saturday morning at 10am until around 2pm.
President of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce Jimmy Stafford said there had been a serious lack of communication from the authorities in regards the road closure.
He said if the Chamber members had of known that the road was going to closed from 10am, businesses may have made a decision to close or made alternative arrangements for staff.
He said there had been no consultation with the Chamber by the authorities in regards the closure.
'We accept that there is a right to protest.
"Everybody has a right to protest from either side.
"The issue for us is just the lack of consultation around what was going to happen today from a road closure perspective and no parking for cars,' said Mr Stafford.
Mr Stafford said traditionally, the May Bank Holiday is 'one of the busiest days of the year' but due to the road closure, many of the businesses trade had been 'decimated.'
'We welcome the Garda presence. The main thing is that the protests go off peacefully.
"We have talked to retailers and some of the members have spoke to me this morning and this should be one of the busiest days of the year.
'The May Bank Holiday is the kicking off of the summer period, there are a lot of tourists in town.
'Our members respect the right to protest from all sides. The lack of consultation is the thing for us.
'If we had been consulted around road closures, timing, parking and barriers, we could have put our members on notice.
'We have had a very good working relationship for years and we work very closely together - and we always have. There are learnings from this going forward around consultation and just keeping us in the loop,' said Mr Stafford.
