skip to main content

Thousands take part in demonstrations in Dublin city

Thousands have taken part in an anti-immigration protest and counter demonstration in Dublin city centre.

Gardaí have confirmed that a small number of public order arrests were made but this afternoon passed off largely without any major incidents.

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

From early this afternoon, there was a heightened garda presence in the capital.

More than 5,000 people gathered at the Garden of Remembrance to take part in an anti-immigration protest.

Thousands attended the anti-immigration protest

As they eventually made their way down O'Connell Street, most waved tricolours while some held up signs with slogans including 'Ireland is Full' or in support of US President Donald Trump.

At the GPO, the anti-immigration protestors were met by a smaller counter-demonstration.

Counter-protestors gathered outside the GPO

Around 1,000 people joined the United Against Racism counter-demonstration on O'Connell Street.

The group said they staged action to protest against anti-migrant sentiment and show that migrants are welcome in Ireland.

There were angry scenes as the two groups passed each other and tensions flared.

A significant number of members from the Garda Public Order Unit established a cordon at the central median on O'Connell Street.

The Garda Air Support Unit monitored developments from overhead and the Garda Mounted Support Unit also attended at the scene.

Despite the two groups chanting at and jeering each other earlier, gardaí maintained the cordon between them.

The anti-immigration protest then culminated on Custom House Quay, where a number of speeches were made.

Organisers of the counter-demonstration at the GPO said the United Against Racism group is supported by over 50 organisations, including trade unions, student unions, migrant groups and housing activists.

These groups also include political parties Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and the Socialist Party.

In a brief statement this evening, gardaí provided an update on this afternoon's high-visibility policing operation.

"Three people were arrested for public order offences," they said.

"No further information on these arrests is available.

"No major incidents of note occurred," the statement concluded.

McGregor posted video ahead of protest

Ahead of this afternoon's anti-immigration protest, MMA fighter Conor McGregor posted a video of himself and his family at the Garden of Remembrance.

In the video, he described today as a "big day" for the country.

In the post, he also told followers they were not there "to sow hatred amongst each other" or to sow division.

He added that the march 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".