Two Years On: a shifting debate on immigration
Two years ago last night and into this morning marked a personal turning point in my political journey. It was the night of the riots in my city of origin—a moment that shook not only the city but Ireland as a whole. A tragic event in which children and others were attacked by a mentally unstable person was seized upon by agitators who fuelled the flames of racial hatred on the streets of our capital. An Garda Síochána worked gallantly but were literally on the run in Dublin city centre until reinforcements arrived including many from outside the capital. Ireland woke up the following morning. Or did it? The rise of far-right politics across Europe, the USA, and now Ireland should serve as a wake-up call. Extremist elements, marked by violence and subversion, are gaining traction across society and especially among young men and in urban working-class communities. A toxic ‘strong man’ culture linked to fear towards others who do not look, behave, love or speak like ...