The Strange Links Between Irish and British Far-Right Activists

This article was written by Ethan Rooney as a guest contribution to Atlas News.On August 5th, Irish social media was awash with images that left users in Ireland bewildered and somewhat bemused. The pictures showed a gang of Irish far-right protesters marching alongside British loyalists in Belfast. It was a sight that left many angry and worried—after all, isn’t this an alliance that’s supposed to be impossible? How are Irish ‘patriots’ and British loyalists, historical enemies, suddenly finding common ground? It would appear that after 800 years, they’ve both set aside centuries of conflict in favour of a shared goal: stopping mass migration on the island..Unlikely FriendshipsOne of the most controversial moments was when Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, came to Ireland in 2023. Robinson is a notorious British loyalist who previously showed support for British soldiers accused of crimes in Northern Ireland. While some in the Irish far-right, like Derek Blighe, were happy to roll out the red carpet, others felt this was a step too far.Brid Smith, a member of the Irish Parliament for the far-left People Before Profit party, called out this hypocrisy. She said, “The fascist organisations in this country claim to wrap the Green Flag around themselves, to be the best republicans, the best patriots. And Tommy Robinson is a hateful [person]. He is a fascist leader in Britain and he is a hateful loyalist; he eulogises the Royal Family, he eulogises British nationalism.”Robinson came to Ireland to film a documentary on what he saw as the growing problem of immigration in the country. He claimed, without much evidence, that immigrants were behind a wave of assaults and murders in Ireland and that the country was on the brink. Far-right activist Darah Flaherty welcomed Robinson to Ireland, even going so far as to tweet, “Belated 1000 welcomes to Éire (Ireland) Tommy Robinson, Consider yourself royalty in Galway.”.The Irish Republican ResponseThe cozying up of Irish far-right figures and British loyalists hasn't sat well with many Irish republicans, including some former IRA members who took a hard stance against the far-right. In 2021, the National Party tried to hold a demonstration in Dublin but ended up having to retreat under police protection after a counter-demonstration by a coalition of Irish republican organizations.In May 2023, Irish Republican prisoners—both in Northern Ireland and the Republic—released a statement denouncing the Irish far-right. They made it clear: “Irish Republicanism has no affinity with the crude ‘nationalist’ hatred recently being peddled by racist and fascist groups.” This statement, signed by well-known figures like Angela Nelson, Liam Hefferman, and Richard Whyte, emphasised that republicanism has always had an “International and Democratic” outlook. They also urged the Irish people to resist any attempts by these far-right groups to claim the mantle of Irish republicanism, given that these groups have “played no part in decades of struggle in Ireland.”.High-Profile Irish Far-Right Figures and Their Links to British NationalismRecent developments have shed light on the unsettling connections between prominent Irish far-right figures and their British counterparts. These relationships paint a picture of unlikely alliances that challenge traditional nationalist narratives and raise questions about the true motivations behind them.Hermann Kelly, originally from Derry, moved to Britain and found a spot in British nationalist organisations, particularly those led by Nigel Farage. As a co-founder of the Irish Freedom Party, Kelly’s connection to Farage (he was Farage’s press officer) raises some eyebrows. Critics argue that Kelly might be more interested in furthering British establishment interests than advocating for Irish sovereignty, especially given his role in building bridges between far-right groups in Ireland and British loyalists.Then there’s Derek Blighe from County Cork, who also spent time abroad as an economic migrant, this time in Canada. Blighe’s organisation, ‘Ireland First,’ closely resembles the British far-right group Britain First in both ideology and tactics. Blighe’s links to loyalist figures, like Tommy Robinson, add another layer of complexity. Robinson, as mentioned earlier, was invited to Ireland by Blighe last year, and this move has only solidified the connections between these transnational far-right networks. Even with some criticism from within the Irish nationalist community, Blighe continues to support and collaborate with figures like Robinson and Mark Collett of Patriotic Alternative, indicating a growing alignment with British far-right ideologies.Another key figure is Rowan Croft, better known as “Grand Torino,” a far-right activist from Dublin who gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic with his anti-immigration videos and support for the “Great Replacement” theory. Croft’s past, however, is what makes his involvement even more controversial. Before turning into a far-right figure, Croft served as a British soldier in Northern Ireland during the 1990s, a period marked by significant conflict between British forces and Irish nationalists. Given this background, Croft’s recent role in fostering ties between Irish far-right groups and British loyalists raises significant concerns about his true motivations. His close work with Scottish loyalist Jim Dowson, another far-right figure, suggests a concerted effort to bridge these traditionally opposing factions under the banner of anti-immigration.Niall McConnell, the leader of the ultra-conservative Catholic group Siol Na Heireann, based in Donegal. McConnell’s relationship with Jim Dowson—a former British National Party member and a big name in loyalist circles—has raised quite a few eyebrows. Dowson is no stranger to controversy, having been involved in the 2012 Belfast flag protests alongside other well-known loyalist figures. McConnell’s close association with Dowson is evident, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. McConnell and British far-right figure Nick Griffin have also made regular appearances on Dowson’s YouTube channel, further cementing these cross-border connections.While these individuals claim to be patriots defending Irish interests, their actions suggest a deeper allegiance to a broader far-right agenda that transcends national boundaries. This growing convergence of Irish and British far-right ideologies poses a significant challenge to traditional nationalist narratives and raises critical questions about the future direction of far-right movements on both sides of the Irish Sea..ConclusionAt this stage, you might be asking yourself, what’s the big deal? Far-right figures around the world have always networked with each other, so why is this any different?Well, for a lot of Irish people, the biggest political issue today is still the fact that Northern Ireland is under British control. This issue shapes many aspects of Irish politics and daily life. While there’s no active conflict right now, thanks to the Good Friday Agreement of 1999, it’s still a big deal. This unresolved territorial dispute makes it all the more shocking to see far-right figures in both countries putting their heads together, united under one cause—opposing immigration.During the demonstration in Belfast, where both Irish and British far-right activists joined forces, the marchers made a stop outside Sean Graham’s Bookmakers and began taunting the people in the building. This spot has a dark history: in 1992, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) entered and opened fire on customers, killing five people simply because they were from an Irish nationalist neighbourhood. According to the Belfast Telegraph, the Irish far-right who travelled to Belfast for this march later joined UDA members in a pub for the night.In the end, this growing alliance between Irish and British far-right figures isn’t just puzzling; it’s deeply concerning. It’s a reminder that political ideologies are becoming increasingly global, with old enmities and national borders starting to blur in the face of new, shared goals.