Counter protestors outnumbered anti-migrant agitators ten-to-one in Galway last weekend, at an event organised to “reject” Helen Ogbu as the city’s elected mayor.
Although advertised heavily across right-wing social media channels in Ireland and abroad, the ‘Grá na hÉireann: National Protest’ in Father Burke Park last Saturday at 2pm was attended by just 16 participants.
Led by two unsuccessful Galway West election candidates, and one from Kerry, the protestors were unable to access the Claddagh greenspace, which was occupied by at least 160 peaceful counter-protestors waving flags and banging drums while children climbed the new playground in the municipal park on Fr Griffin Road.
Speaking to the Advertiser before the protest, Councillor Ogbu said it would be inappropriate for the holder of the office of mayor to attend such an event, and that she “represented all Galwegians, and supported their right to protest, even if the protest was against [her]”. Mayor Ogbu won 12,960 preferences at the Galway West by-election in May.
After 45 minutes, and some bad tempered verbal exchanges, uniformed gardaí and members of the Public Order Unit escorted a small number of protestors outside the gate of the park, where they continued their protest peacefully at the side of the road by unfurling an anti-vaccination banner. Counter protestors, marshalled by Galway Anti Racism Network (GARN ) chanted “Whose park? Our park!”.
Organised by Doran McMahon, who won 450 votes in Galway West for the Irish Freedom Party at the 2024 general election, the protest had a ten-point manifesto, with the primary goal of rejecting Councillor Ogbu as the 2026 mayor of Galway city, and a secondary goal of supporting the “legacy” of left-wing TD Catherine Connolly since her election to the presidency last November.
The Irish Freedom Party was struck from the Register of Political Parties by An Coimisiún Toghcháin last month because of contradictory information submitted by its administrators, although its founder, Hermann Kelly, attended the 16-strong Galway rally, but did not address its Claddagh gathering. McMahon accepted and repeated a description of the event as “racism protestors against anti-racism protestors,” and claimed counter protestors were not native.
“Yes, it will be a counter racism and pro-racism gathering, but I don’t think many are coming because the advertising was suppressed by the media and Facebook,” he said, at the advertised meeting time of 2pm on Saturday. “Most of the counter [protestors] are not even from Galway; they’re migrants, or from Gort,” he added.
Michael Ryan, better known as ‘legal eagle’ on TikTok, attended the protest. He won 108 votes at the Galway West by-election in May as a non-party candidate. .
The Irish People Party’s Galway West by-election candidate, AJ Cahill, said he was unable to attend the protest, but his party’s logos were visible on loudspeakers. Cahill won 949 preferences at the May by-election.
Unsuccessful County Kerry independent Dáil candidate Michelle Keane attended the protest. Speaking from the steps of County Hall after almost 40 gardaí escorted the 16 protestors from Fr Burke Park to Prospect Hill through city streets thronged with tourists and racegoers, she called on “Irish men” to “get out of the gym. They need to start fighting for the Irish women... who have flown the flag of Irish nationalism for the past three years,” she claimed, despite earlier calling for the Border to be closed when recording videos on Fr Griffin Road.
Another female protestor held a cardboard sign aloft with “Ní ise mo mhéara: Not my mayor” as protestors marched through Quay Street and Shop Street, en route to County Buildings. A substantial number of onlookers spontaneously chanted “Gaillimh Ogbu!” as she passed.
Prominent amongst counter protestors was GARN organiser Joe Loughnane, Methodist minister Reverend Steven Foster, members of Anti Fascist Action Ireland, Solidarity-People Before Profit, Tonn na Clé, the Labour Party, United Against Racism Donegal, and many non-aligned, private individuals who wished to attend in solidarity.
“I am here today as an anti-racism campaigner,” said Galway city councillor John McDonagh (Lab ), who appeared to be the only elected representative present.
Last year, a similar anti-migrant protest in Galway city attracted four times as many right-wing agitators, and half as many counter protestors. Despite Helen Ogbu not being the city’s mayor in August 2025, she was similarly identified as a target of criticism by protestors last year.
A spokesman for An Garda Síochána said it had engaged with event organisers, and that it aims to facilitate people’s right to peaceful protest. “An Garda Síochána’s role is to ensure public safety and that the constitutional rights of members of the public are protected,” he said.
The spokesman declined to answer questions on how members monitor gatherings for potential offences under 1989 Incitement Act, and 2024 Criminal justice (Hate Offences ) Act. “An Garda Síochána does not comment on material published by third parties,” he said.
No arrests were made. Last year, one anti-racism counter protestor was arrested, and later released without charge.
Volunteers from the Irish Network of Legal Observers (INLO ) monitored marchers, counter-protesters and gardaí policing the event.
