An initiative led by far-right activists has sparked a furious outcry in Dublin after hundreds of tricolor flags were hung from lampposts in several areas of the Irish capital. While supporters portray the gesture as a patriotic tribute, many residents see it as an intimidation tactic targeting immigrant communities.
According to local media, the mass unfurling of Irish flags took place over the weekend in the northern and western districts of the city. Videos posted on social media showed groups of activists unfurling the flags in the middle of the night, while some of them called for people to "take back control" of public spaces.
Local authorities indicated that there were no regulations prohibiting the display of the national flag on public roads, but several elected officials denounced an "identity hijacking" of the national symbol. Anti-racist groups also condemned the initiative, claiming that these flags are "used as a message of exclusion against immigrants and visible minorities."
Supporters of the movement, for their part, say they are simply expressing their attachment to Ireland and promise to "resist any attempt to censor the national flag." One of the organizers compared this action to a similar campaign recently carried out in England, where far-right groups also raised more flags to protest cultural diversity and immigration.
This episode comes amid a tense political climate in Ireland, marked by rising nationalist and anti-immigration rhetoric, particularly on social media. Authorities have called for calm and reiterated that "national symbols must not be used for divisive purposes."
