Why mass protests erupted in Ireland?

Thousands of people marched through Dublin city centre on Saturday to protest against immigration policies. The demonstration followed a social media video by Conor McGregor, who called on Irish citizens to make their voices heard.

The protest began at the Garden of Remembrance around 2 pm. Protesters carried Irish tricolour flags and banners with slogans like "Irish Lives Matter," "Ireland is Full," and "Coolock Says No." Some wore “Make Ireland Great Again” hats, and others wore "Make America Great Again" hats.

The march moved down O’Connell Street and stopped at the Customs House. Protesters chanted "Get them out" and "Ireland for the Irish."

🇮🇪 WOW! Tens of thousands of Irish patriots are currently marching through the streets of Dublin to demand an end to Mass Immigration.

I have never seen anything like this before in Ireland.

The Irish are finally waking up! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/gRMpPjz1FK

— Cillian (@CilComLFC) April 26, 2025

There was a strong Garda presence throughout the protest. Public order units, mounted police, and plainclothes officers kept watch. They also managed a counter-demonstration organised by left-wing groups such as Labour, People Before Profit, and United Against Racism.

Counter-protesters were held behind metal barriers near the General Post Office (GPO) and chanted "Refugees are welcome here." Both sides shouted slogans, but no major violence broke out, although some heckling and gestures were exchanged.

The protest disrupted traffic across the city centre. Buses were backed up along the River Liffey, and drivers were told to turn around.

Conor McGregor did not attend the protest but released a video earlier in the day. In it, he called for unity and respect, linking the march to the memory of the 1916 Easter Rising. He criticised the Irish Government's immigration policies and urged people to stay peaceful.

McGregor said,

"We are not here to build hatred amongst each other. We are not here to sow division. We are here today to shine our light on the failure of Ireland’s Government."

The mixed martial artist has shown interest in running for the Irish presidency. He recently voiced concerns about public safety and immigration during a meeting with Donald Trump in the U.S.

While Gardaí managed to keep the two protests separate, tensions remain high. Authorities warned about the rise of self-styled "patrol" groups linked to anti-immigrant movements, which they called a "cause of concern."

Meanwhile, United Against Racism released a statement saying far-right groups do not represent the real Ireland.

They said: "When far-right groups march through our cities, they spread fear and division. The real problem lies with those in power, not with migrants."

Estimates of the crowd size varied. Some said at least 10,000 people marched. Others claimed numbers as high as 100,000, but there was no official confirmation.

Independent Councillor Malachy Steenson gave a speech at the Customs House. Due to poor sound quality, many people had to watch online to hear him.

Gardaí confirmed that public order units will remain deployed to maintain safety across the city.

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