In the occupied Six-Counties among elements within loyalism the concept has been present for many years often manifested through sectarianism.
Late last year, 2025, racist and fascist thugs using lumpenproletariat gangs attacked a hostel for International Protection Applicants at City West, Saggart, in South West Dublin. Scenes not dissimilar to the Nazi Kristallnacht in Germany, 1938, occurred and were organised it appeared by fascist and far right groups whose leaders kept out of the way, not wishing to get their hands dirty. Organisations taking part, one of which would have been vehemently opposed to such activities only a couple of years ago, ranged from concerned residents and parents who perhaps took least part in the rioting to organised thugs superintended by the far-right.
The pretext for the activities at City West was an alleged sexual assault of a 10-year- old girl near the City West Hotel used to house International Protection Applicants, and a 26-year-old man, an asylum seeker, was charged with the assault. Within 24 hours the ‘incident outrage online’ had escalated into unrest and violent clashes with gardai occurred outside the hotel. This led to an arson attack on accommodation housing 2,400 International Protection Applicants and immigrants. Other attacks on migrant centres across the Twenty-Six-Counties have happened with one group travelling to the Six-Counties to show support with racist Belfast loyalists! More recently in Belfast scenes reminiscent to the pogroms carried out by loyalist groups against Catholics (when in 1969 Bombay Street was completely burned-out leaving hundreds of Catholic families homeless and bereft of all furniture) took place after a stabbing attack allegedly committed by a Sudanese man. Anti-immigrant pogroms took place across the Six-Counties chiefly, though not exclusively, in Belfast. A few weeks later another knifing incident took place in Belfast yet not a murmur of protest! Could this have been because the latter incident did not involve a migrant? Far-right groups and individuals from the UK are reportedly involved in fuelling these pogroms, the same groups incidentally who, in many cases, see the whole of Ireland as coming back under the British yolk!
Anti-immigrant feeling is certainly on the rise in the Twenty-Six-Counties but as of yet still a minority, thankfully. People once linked to the left wing of republicanism like Malachy Steenson, formerly associated with Official Sinn Fein the Workers Party, have changed their clothing, joining in with the turmoil spread by the far-right who in turn, though perhaps not realising it, are taking their lead from the British fascists. Serious political activists do not change their position every time an opportunity knocks, this is known as ‘political opportunism’. Many parliamentarians are not serious about their political positions and are unprincipled when it comes to fudging their stance on issues as the Twenty-Six-County government are bowing to far-right pressure, changing their position on Ukrainian refugees who were once made welcome, when it was fashionable!
Anti-immigrant feeling is certainly on the rise in the Twenty-Six-Counties but as of yet still a minority, thankfully. People once linked to the left wing of republicanism like Malachy Steenson, formerly associated with Official Sinn Fein the Workers Party, have changed their clothing, joining in with the turmoil spread by the far-right who in turn, though perhaps not realising it, are taking their lead from the British fascists. Serious political activists do not change their position every time an opportunity knocks, this is known as ‘political opportunism’. Many parliamentarians are not serious about their political positions and are unprincipled when it comes to fudging their stance on issues as the Twenty-Six-County government are bowing to far-right pressure, changing their position on Ukrainian refugees who were once made welcome, when it was fashionable!
One reasonable sounding argument put forward by these far-right groups and individuals against asylum seekers and immigration in general, coloured immigration that is, not white migrants it appears, is that ‘Ireland is overcrowded’. The housing shortage and our health service being stretched to the limit are cited by these dangerous neo-fascist and far-right individuals and groups to “send them back”, claiming ‘Ireland is overpopulated’. The outcome of such propaganda can, and unfortunately did, result in such events as those at City West and other places resulting in an Irish Kristallnacht. Are the Twenty-Six-Counties overpopulated? Do the far-right have a point? Here are some figures showing the population density per square mile of some EU and non-EU countries.
The population density of the Twenty-Six-Counties is 201-207 people per square mile. The United Kingdom is 700 people per square mile, Monaco, one of Europe’s smallest states, 47,000 people per square mile while Malta, the EUs smallest country with the highest population density in the bloc, 4,704 people per square mile. Holland comes in at 1,402 with Belgium 1,007 people per square mile. Luxembourg has 696, with Italy at 513 people per square mile, while Poland accommodates 320 people per square mile. France comes in at 303 per square mile, Liechtenstein wades in at 663, with Germany standing at 612. Romania is at 212 with neighbouring Bulgaria at 151. Austria at 287 people per square mile, Hungary 268, Spain 253, Portugal 294. Within the EU the Twenty-Six-Counties lay 20th of the 27 member states regarding population density with seven countries only having lower figures in this regard. They are; Croatia with 176 people per square mile, Bulgaria at 151, Lithuania 114, Estonia 80, Latvia 75, Sweden 67 and Finland 49 people per square mile. As can be seen the figure for population density for Ireland (twenty-six counties) is very low and does not stack up with the far-right argument about being “overpopulated”. As for land mass, the area size of countries, Ireland as a whole is 32,595 square miles, 32 counties, with the Twenty-Six-Counties holding 27,133 square miles under its jurisdiction. Holland has a land mass of 16,040 square miles, Belgium 11,849, Luxembourg 998 square miles, Malta 122 square miles, Monaco 0.78 (about 500 acres). Monaco with the highest population by a distance also has the smallest land mass, do these figures square with the far-right argument? (EBSCO database)
With a higher land mass and lower population density the Twenty-Six-Counties should have no problem with housing, and yet it has! This is due solely to government policies since the formation of the state in 1922 and various administrations continue to promote policy not conducive to solving our housing problem. One thing for sure is the housing shortage has nothing to do with immigration or, more precisely, International Protection Applicants. Immigrants are being scapegoated by the far right because this diverts attention away from the inherent economic contradictions within capitalism. The far-right are pro-free market capitalist parties who pose no threat to the ruling-class or their economy (which is why the Gardai take an easier line with them compared to left-wing demonstrations) and use any considered viable and visible excuse to blame other than the real cause, government policy and wealth inequality. In other words the people who have been sucked into this racist avenue of blame are attacking the wrong enemy!
The population density of the Twenty-Six-Counties is 201-207 people per square mile. The United Kingdom is 700 people per square mile, Monaco, one of Europe’s smallest states, 47,000 people per square mile while Malta, the EUs smallest country with the highest population density in the bloc, 4,704 people per square mile. Holland comes in at 1,402 with Belgium 1,007 people per square mile. Luxembourg has 696, with Italy at 513 people per square mile, while Poland accommodates 320 people per square mile. France comes in at 303 per square mile, Liechtenstein wades in at 663, with Germany standing at 612. Romania is at 212 with neighbouring Bulgaria at 151. Austria at 287 people per square mile, Hungary 268, Spain 253, Portugal 294. Within the EU the Twenty-Six-Counties lay 20th of the 27 member states regarding population density with seven countries only having lower figures in this regard. They are; Croatia with 176 people per square mile, Bulgaria at 151, Lithuania 114, Estonia 80, Latvia 75, Sweden 67 and Finland 49 people per square mile. As can be seen the figure for population density for Ireland (twenty-six counties) is very low and does not stack up with the far-right argument about being “overpopulated”. As for land mass, the area size of countries, Ireland as a whole is 32,595 square miles, 32 counties, with the Twenty-Six-Counties holding 27,133 square miles under its jurisdiction. Holland has a land mass of 16,040 square miles, Belgium 11,849, Luxembourg 998 square miles, Malta 122 square miles, Monaco 0.78 (about 500 acres). Monaco with the highest population by a distance also has the smallest land mass, do these figures square with the far-right argument? (EBSCO database)
With a higher land mass and lower population density the Twenty-Six-Counties should have no problem with housing, and yet it has! This is due solely to government policies since the formation of the state in 1922 and various administrations continue to promote policy not conducive to solving our housing problem. One thing for sure is the housing shortage has nothing to do with immigration or, more precisely, International Protection Applicants. Immigrants are being scapegoated by the far right because this diverts attention away from the inherent economic contradictions within capitalism. The far-right are pro-free market capitalist parties who pose no threat to the ruling-class or their economy (which is why the Gardai take an easier line with them compared to left-wing demonstrations) and use any considered viable and visible excuse to blame other than the real cause, government policy and wealth inequality. In other words the people who have been sucked into this racist avenue of blame are attacking the wrong enemy!
A leading factor towards our housing crisis is the concentration of dwellings around Dublin neglecting other areas. Anybody would think the state began and ended with the boundaries of County Dublin! It is now time for those who have, understandably to a certain extent, followed this right-wing rubbish to turn their attention away from the straw men of immigration and start attacking government policies regarding housing and the housing crisis. Opportunistic politicians jumping on right wing populism will lead only to perdition (not in its Biblical sense). If every immigrant was shipped out of the Twenty-Six-Counties tomorrow it would unlikely improve the housing situation and leave our health service decimated.
As for our health service it is no more stretched, again down to government policies, than it would be with very little or no immigration. In fact without migrant workers we would have no health service. On this myself and the government can find common ground. Many of our nurses are of migrant origin as are some of our doctors and consultants. And a fantastic job they do along with those indigenous employees in the same jobs.
As for our health service it is no more stretched, again down to government policies, than it would be with very little or no immigration. In fact without migrant workers we would have no health service. On this myself and the government can find common ground. Many of our nurses are of migrant origin as are some of our doctors and consultants. And a fantastic job they do along with those indigenous employees in the same jobs.
Stop blaming migration for societies problems, they are not the root cause, start addressing the real and fundamental problems. The fascists and far-right are lying through their teeth and are using the well-meaning but mistaken people of the Twenty-Six-Counties for their own ends. I suggest those who are following these morons read the fate in Germany of some of those who did the same. Hitler had them executed once they became surplus to requirements in an incident often referred to as the Night of the Long Knives. Think about it very long and hard the next time an anti-immigration rally is advertised, you are being used and will then in all probability be abused!!
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
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