About this episode
Violent unrest is forcing Ireland to reckon with increasing hostility to high levels of immigration, which has not traditionally been a major point of political debate. That is changing, however, with roughly one in five Irish residents today born overseas. The country is grappling with a burgeoning far right movement, with much of the conversation happening on social media. In recent years, hostility towards foreigners which has been nurtured online has spilled over into the real world, the most stark example being a widely-covered riot in Dublin in November 2023. So how is a country which has historically been shaped by the emigration of its own people dealing with the issue of immigration in the 21st century, and is Ireland’s political establishment ready to meet the challenge? On this episode of The Global Story, Washington DC-based host Caitríona Perry is joined by the BBC’s Dublin reporter Aoife Moore, and by Shane Harrison, who worked as the BBC’s Ireland correspondent for three decades. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Alice Aylett Roberts and Laurie Kalus Sound Engineer: Mike Regaard Assistant Editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior News Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith