Anti-refugee protesters target St Patrick’s Day parade floats to spread their message

Parades in Dublin, Cork, Kerry, ­Kildare, Tipperary and Galway have been targeted for special online applications linked to local accommodation demonstrations. There are fears the far right now views such parades as a strategic publicity opportunity.

Some of the parades targeted are in areas where tensions have been running high over local refugee centre protests.

The provisional entries – some of which have been applied for in the names of individual protesters – are aimed at exploiting local concerns over the use of properties to house refugees and ­asylum-seekers.

In some applications, the entries ­involve marchers, but in other cases special floats have even been proposed.

Several of the proposed entries are linked to property protests at which far-right campaigners have been highly visible over recent weeks and months.

Integration groups believe that the parade entries represent a deliberate ­attempt to inflame local tensions and secure international publicity via ­television, radio and newspapers.

Some also believe it represents an attempt to exploit parades to bolster far-right campaigners in the forthcoming local government elections.

One integration activist, who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted, said it was a very disturbing ­development.

“The St Patrick’s Day parades are supposed to be a celebration of everything that is good and positive about Ireland,” she said. “Parades are all about bringing people together to celebrate our clubs, societies, schools and culture.

“They were certainly not designed to offer a platform to anyone who wants to promote division, hatred and even racism within our communities.”

She pointed out that there is an enormous involvement by people born outside Ireland in the St Patrick’s Day parades via individual participation in bands, sports clubs and arts groups.

“The potential for hurt and offence is absolutely enormous,” she said.

Several St Patrick’s Day parades have already declined such entries as ineligible under their rules.

Irish parade committees operate a strict policy where all entries, including marchers and floats, cannot involve political, protest or activist groups.

Some parade committees also have rules whereby entries are not permitted if they are likely to cause offence or generate public controversy.

Several committees are liaising with gardaí to ensure parade rules are ­adhered to – and that unofficial or unsanctioned entries that try to flout the rules are not allowed to march.

Gardaí said they were monitoring the activity of far-right groups amid concerns they are using tactics developed overseas to sow division within communities over accommodation, security, healthcare and education issues.

There have been almost 20 arson attacks on properties nationwide that have been linked to refugee accommodation.

Some properties, several of which were gutted, were never intended for such use and had been wrongly linked with refugee housing.