Editorial: How popular is the far right in Ireland?

It’s easy to imagine even in Ireland, that the growing far right is more prevalent than it actually is.

We do see a considerable amount of far right protests and an increasing number of politicians who use far right rhetoric to shape the political debate.

It is also clear that social media algorithms have helped to amplify those who seek to create division.

Creating controversy on social media helps to get content more widely seen. It is possible that we see and hear far more controversial far right content on social media since the algorithm knows that amplifying it creates far more engagement than more recent or measured commentary. However, in elections here, the far right has performed poorly in general.

A new report released recently has found what the writers of the new study call a ‘widening gap between public attitudes and political discourse’. Ireland in Focus 2025, Mind the Gap shows that through online amplification, visible protests, and repeated narratives, a relatively small number of far-right actors disproportionately influence public debate. Positively, this report actually claims to show that public attitudes are becoming steadily more inclusive, while some political rhetoric appears to be doing the opposite.

I hadn’t heard of the group that has released the report - Hope and Courage Collective (H&CC). They work with communities, workplaces, and institutions across Ireland to strengthen democracy and build collective resilience in the face of rising far-right hate and disinformation.

Their findings could be very important. They include: that the far-right has not secured broad public support, but it is shaping the conversation. Electoral success remains limited, but influence is exercised through narrative creation and political pressure. The report found that public attitudes are becoming steadily more inclusive. The report’s methodology draws on a wide range of nationally representative data sources. 66% agree that immigrants contribute positively to Irish culture and community (+ 2% up from 64% in 2024). 79% believe working-class people are struggling due to systemic inequality. 80% agree that Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities face greater barriers to success than white people, (+ 5% up from 2024).

Edel McGinley, Executive Director, Hope and Courage Collective said: “This report tells a very different story than the one we have been fed for the past few years. It tells us that the majority of people reject far-right narratives and have real empathy and support across a range of issues. People just want leadership that brings solutions, without fear, violence, or scapegoating.”

A central finding of the report is that far-right influence remains fragile and relies heavily on social media amplification and does not have broad public support. Let’s hope that this is the case.