In February 2023, a new far-right party was officially registered in Ireland.
Calling themselves ‘Ireland First’, the group insists it is not racist or even anti-immigrant, but in favour of ‘sensible’ immigration policy.
However, The Irish Times gained access to a private messaging group on Telegram where members of ‘Ireland First’, unguarded, displayed overt racism, homophobia, anti-semitism and sometimes called for violence against refugees.
Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallagher, has reviewed thousands of messages posted by the group members over a number of months earlier this year. There was no evidence of the most hateful rhetoric attracting any sanction or criticism from the party’s leadership.
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Discussions included pandemic conspiracies, anger at Sinn Fein and the ‘traitorous’ Christy Moore. The ire was directed at the singer for his show of solidarity at an ‘Ireland For All’ march in Dublin, in support of refugees and marginalised groups.
It prompted one member of the closed Telegram group to contact a social media account impersonating Brendan Gleeson. The party member appeared to be under the impression the real actor might be persuaded to join their cause.
In this episode Gallagher outlines who is behind ‘Ireland First’, the party’s origins and what its members are really saying in private. This episode was originally published in March 2023.
