Anti-immigrant protest attended by hundreds in Dublin

A smaller counter protest took place outside the GPO, where gardaí formed a line between both groups as they exchanged chants.

There was a large garda presence throughout the city centre, including members of the public order unit.

The crowd gathered at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square around 2.30pm before marching through O’Connell Street and towards the Custom House.

Many protesters held Irish flags and some carried signs with slogans such as “Irish Lives Matter” as the crowd chanted.

Those at the front of the march carried a banner with the words “Newtown community says No” and similar banners for Coolock, Finglas, Kildare and other areas were also observed.

A recent protest in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, saw a number of arrests and three garda cars damaged after crowds opposed plans to house asylum seekers there.

Speakers at the Custom House today called for applause as they praised those who protested in the town despite “Government brutality”.

Traffic was brought to a standstill through the main thoroughfare of the city for the duration of the protest, with Luas trams and buses diverted or suspended.

Members of the public order unit gathered at the turn onto Parnell Street, where rioters damaged shopfronts and set a garda car alight during the Dublin riots.

Counter protesters outside the GPO today held a banner that said “refugees welcome” and a number of flags, including Palestinian flags.

Gardaí formed a line between both groups and the march proceeded towards the Custom House after both groups exchanged chants.

Many speakers were local or European election candidates who wished to rally voters ahead of June 7, when the country will go to the polls.

There were calls for protesters to “take back control” and to ensure they vote in the upcoming elections.

Some of their supporters canvassed in the crowd and handed out leaflets, while other distributed copies of the Proclamation of Independence.

Speeches focused on the migration policy and pushed back on the EU Migration Pact, with many telling the crowd that “Ireland is Full” and “Enough is Enough”.

They claimed Irish heritage was under threat, with others telling protesters that they were marching to “defend” their children, without specifying from what.

Protesters heard that the parties in the Dáil do not “care” about them, at one point booing Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Simon Harris and later chanting that Sinn Féin were “traitors”.

The rally continued until 5pm before the crowd dispersed.