Heavy Garda Presence at Dundalk Anti-Immigrant Protest and Counter-Demonstration
A Heavy Garda Presence was evident during a protest and counter-protest in Dundalk, Co. Louth, on Sunday afternoon. The protests were centered around plans to convert the former St Joseph’s orphanage and St Malachy’s Convent at Seatown Place and Castle Street into accommodation for up to 260 displaced Ukrainian refugees by the end of the year.
The protest was organized by a campaign group named “Dundalk Says No,” which called for participants to gather at the site at 5 pm. Several speakers, including members of the Irish Freedom Party and the Irish People, who recently ran unsuccessfully in local elections, addressed the crowd. They urged attendees to oppose the government’s immigration policies and register to vote in the upcoming General Election. During the speeches, counter-demonstrators frequently drowned out the speakers with chants of “immigrants welcome here” using bullhorns.
The anti-immigrant protesters gathered on one side of Seatown Place, while the counter-demonstration took place on the opposite side, with participants holding a large banner that read, “Dundalk stands with immigrants.” Dozens of uniformed Gardaí and members of the Public Order Unit formed a buffer zone between the two groups. The protest concluded peacefully after just over an hour.
Three Arrested for Public Order Offences
Three individuals were arrested for public order offences in Dundalk on Sunday evening following the protests. The anti-immigrant group, Dundalk Says No, organised the protest, which featured speeches from various figures, including unsuccessful local election candidates and Dublin City Councillor Malachy Steenson. Members of The Mary Wallopers participated in the counter-protest.
Dozens of uniformed Gardaí and Public Order Unit members maintained separation between the opposing groups at Seatown Place. Both protests ended peacefully, with the counter-protesters being asked to disperse via Castle Street. However, some individuals who left via Jocelyn Street and Francis Street were involved in a public order incident in the Earl Street area.
