The Far Right In Ireland Declares War on Reality

Plans to outlaw facts and replace them with alternative untruths

In recent years, we in Ireland have been traditionally known for being a nation of centrist mams and dads with progressive social values and everyone being generally sound. Since the Covid lockdowns there’s been a noticeable rise in far-right ideologies, largely propagated through social media. This trend culminated with the Dublin riots and more recently events in Coolock. Needless to say, these events have raised alarm amongst policymakers, social scientists, Gardai, and civil society in general. A significant cohort of the population’s fears are being exploited by the far right via social media whose main message is a cocktail of stupidity and hate. A social media swamp where logic meets its untimely demise.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and lately Telegram have become fertile grounds for the dissemination of far-right ideas, let us call it what it is though, racism. These platforms provide a relatively unregulated space where individuals can share content that aligns with nationalist, anti-immigration, and xenophobic sentiments, often cloaked in the guise of patriotic rhetoric. The algorithmic nature of these platforms exacerbates the issue, as content that elicits strong emotional responses—often fear or anger—is more likely to be amplified.

TikTok, Twitter and Telegram have become the main disseminators of far-right propaganda in recent years. These platforms are awash with characters draped in the tricolour, standing outside the GPO or Dáil berating their audience with tales of shadowy cabals that control us with microchipped vaccines and planes spraying the skies with chemicals.

They tweet and make TikToks claiming to tell the “truth” about various marginalised groups, like sacrificial offerings to the social media gods for “likes” and “views”. Posts like “The Immigrant Invasion” and “The War on Traditional Values”. Propaganda at its darkest, crafted to exploit fear and sow the seeds of division. You can see the look on their faces as they stare into the camera, eyes glistening with the zeal of a fascist convert who has spent too much time doom-scrolling on TikTok or Twitter.

They talk about the “great replacement theory” and how immigrants are being brought in to replace the Irish.

The great replacement theory is fundamentally flawed and rooted in baseless fear and misinformation. It perpetuates the idea that demographic changes are part of a deliberate conspiracy to eradicate the local population. Of course, you might look at elements of what happened in Coolock or Roscrea and think replacing some of those halfwits with newcomers might not be such a bad idea. But the fatal flaw with the great replacement theory is that people must assume the apparatus of government is highly functioning and efficient. It would also require thousands of people across multiple jurisdictions not to tell anyone else they are part of a massive conspiracy. There’s more chance of Leo Varadkar joining Sinn Féin and chanting “up the ra” than any great replacement happening.

Several factors have contributed to the rise of the far right in Ireland. The economic crisis of 2008 left deep scars, with lasting impacts on employment and public trust in institutions within some sections of society. Covid exacerbated the issues. Over two decades of relentless war and turmoil around the globe has seen increased immigration which some segments of the population perceive as a threat to their economic stability and cultural identity. Ireland, the land of a thousand welcomes is no more.

The far-right likes to talk a lot about the accommodation crisis and then they go and try to burn down accommodation. It’s as if the concept of critical thinking had been scrubbed from their collective consciousness, and replaced with a fervent devotion to the cult of racist paranoia. At least 30 fires have been set at properties or locations connected to housing for asylum seekers or those seeking international protection. 30 different locations. Fermoy in Cork, Moville in Donegal, Rosscahill in Donegal. Tallaght, Coolock, Roscrea, Roosky, and Newtownmountkennedy, to name a few. All with vastly different socioeconomic environments with only one thing in common. A local populace exploited by far-right agitators via social media. Maybe someone should look into the spread of disinformation through social media. I’m sure the exchequer is happy with the social-media multinational tax windfall, but it’ll be of no use to an irreparably broken and deeply divided society.

Brexit also played a significant role in the rise of the far right in Ireland. The divisive atmosphere surrounding the UK's decision to leave the EU emboldened similar sentiments within Ireland, particularly among those who viewed the EU as overreaching or detrimental to national sovereignty. A lot of those leprechaun-looking social media accounts spreading far-right rhetoric in Ireland are very 'Russian bot' looking to me.

Far-right groups in Ireland have adeptly used social media to recruit members and radicalise individuals. Closed Facebook groups, far-right forums, and Telegram allow these groups to create echo chambers, reinforcing ideologies without external challenge. Memes, viral videos, and emotionally charged articles are tailored to appeal to not just disaffected youths but to a vulnerable older cohort of society and those feeling left behind by rapid social changes.

And then there’s the hate – palpable, raw, and unfiltered. Tiktoks whose vitriol could strip paint off the walls. Angry incoherent speeches are a tapestry of xenophobia, homophobia, and misogyny. The “likes” and shares” are reminders that in this echo chamber, prejudice was not only accepted but celebrated.

Irish society may be in for a rude awakening if far-right influencers with more polished online presences start emerging, people more adept at using sophisticated digital marketing techniques to spread their message. These slicker influencers that are emerging across Europe often present themselves as ordinary people standing up for their rights, making their rhetoric more relatable and their extremist views more palatable. 

But why? Why the rampant stupidity? Why the deep-seated hate? The answer, it seems, lies in a toxic stew of misinformation, fear, and a desperate longing for a past that never truly existed. The far-right thrives on a narrative of persecution and loss, a belief that their way of life is under siege from external threats (immigrants) and internal threats (government). It's a comforting lie, much easier to digest than the complex and often uncomfortable truths of modern society. The absurdity of their beliefs is staggering. Climate change? An Eamon Ryan conspiracy, a hoax. Science? A liberal Fine Gael conspiracy. Human rights? Only for the Labour Party. The cognitive dissonance would give you the vapours, making one question how such a large segment of society could become so deeply entrenched in delusion. Logic is not only absent; it is an enemy to be eradicated. The far-right's brand of stupidity and hate isn't a joke; it's a ticking time bomb, threatening the very fabric of our society. Just ask Mary Lou Mcdonald or Leo Varadkar both of whom have received death threats recently.

It’s hard not to have a sense of sadness. These people are not Nazi monsters, but people. People whose fears have been manipulated, whose anger has been weaponised, and whose common sense has been drowned in a sea of social media lies. These are almost victims of a different kind – victims of a social media propaganda machine that profits from division and chaos.

The rise of the far right through social media has significant implications for Irish society. Hate crimes and racist incidents, though still relatively low compared to other European countries, have seen an uptick. Public discourse has also shifted; polarising topics now dominate, detracting from constructive debates on pressing issues like housing and healthcare. The more polarising and extreme rhetoric, the more likes, shares and engagement. The only ones profiting are social media companies.

The Irish government and civil society groups have to ramp up efforts to counteract these trends. Initiatives aimed at promoting digital literacy, particularly amongst the young, strive to equip individuals with the tools necessary to critically evaluate the information they encounter online. 

Apart from building prisons and locking everyone up, in the end, the only antidote to such madness is truth, education, and some degree of understanding. I’m not sure Ireland can succeed where everyone else has failed, but if we don't confront the lunacy head-on, as the Manic Street Preachers song goes -

If you tolerate this, then your children will be next!