Several anti-migrant candidates – including some recently-elected councillors – have already begun canvassing in a bid to become the first far-right TDs in the Dáil.
But unlike other EU states where support levels for far-right movements are up to 30%, bitter in-fighting among extremist groups here is stymieing the emergence of any significant political force.
A number of candidates representing anti-immigrant groups such as the Irish Freedom Party, The National Party and Ireland First have stepped forward to declare their Dáil ambitions.
Several Independent far-right candidates have also publicly announced their intention to contest the next general election.
The Irish Freedom Party has lined up six candidates so far, including leader Hermann Kelly (Louth) and five other party members; Doran McMahon (Galway West); Paul Fitzsimons (Dublin Bay North), Orla Donohoe (Carlow-Kilkenny), Anthony Casey (Kildare South) and Councillor Glen Moore (Dublin South), who took the fourth of five seats in the Palmerstown/Fonthill area in the local elections. Their posters ask people to vote number one for ‘our land, our laws, our lifetime’.
The National Party has so far announced two candidates, Stephen Redmond (Dublin North-West) and Yan Mac Oireachtaigh (Dublin South-West).
The party’s only successful local election candidate, Patrick Quinlan (Dublin West), has yet to confirm his Dáil intentions.
Ireland First leader Derek Blighe said he will be running for the 34th Dáil in Cork North-Central on issues including housing, street safety and ‘uncontrolled mass migration’.
Independent Kevin Coyle – who received the highest number of first-preference votes but still missed out in the local elections – confirmed he will contest Dublin Bay North, telling voters no other candidate is ‘prepared to do what I am for our area’.
Independent councillor Gavin Pepper posted pictures of himself canvassing with his family in Dublin North-West in recent days and said he is getting ‘amazing’ feedback.
Fellow anti-immigration Independent councillor in Dublin’s north inner city, Malachy Steenson, last night confirmed he would be contesting the Dublin Central constituency.
He added: ‘I’m not part of any formal alliance. Alleged in-fighting is part of the normal cut and thrust of politics.’
Hermann Kelly said the Irish Freedom Party has 11 election candidates formally approved, adding ‘more are still in process’ and they will be ‘publicising them one by one’.
So far, however, attempts to create a united anti-immigrant movement that could have a chance of returning the country’s first far-right TDs have failed.
Discussions on a potential alliance between extremist groups held during the summer ended up with a consensus of just three parties; Ireland First, The National Party and The Irish People.
A statement posted in July by Blighe of Ireland First complained that other parties refused to make the necessary ‘concessions’.
An alliance spokesman wrote: ‘Unfortunately, the other political parties involved in the discussions were not willing to make the concessions made by Ireland First, the Irish People and the National Party needed to make the alliance work.’
The statement concluded the alliance would ‘personally implore any like-minded political organisations and candidates to get in touch’ to ‘ensure we present a strong, cohesive, unified front in advance of the next election’.
Clann Éireann founder and former National Party leader Justin Barrett has not yet signalled his intention to run. Earlier this month Mr Barrett said he is open to discussions ‘with parties of real leaders’.
Infighting between rival far-right groups continued on social media this week. Derek Blighe suggested far-right candidates in Dublin Bay North ‘need to sit down together and figure out who is most likely (based on past efforts) to win a seat’, adding others ‘need to man up and step back’.
His call was rejected by the Irish Freedom Party’s Paul Fitzsimons, who posted: ‘Bitch all you want amongst yourselves don’t drag me into it. Derek should mind his own business…’
Kevin Coyle added: ‘It’s my area I just missed out by 70 votes of course I have the best chance and they don’t like that.’
Diarmaid Ó Conaráin of the Irish Freedom Party also rejected calls for a unified far-right candidate, arguing it was ‘his area too’.
