Tomás Ó Flatharta

Looking at Things from the Left

Archive for the ‘CityWest Immigrant Accommodation Centre’ Category

The Blockade Is the Message

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How a Fuel Price Spike Became a Fascist Audition

An effective heavy vehicle blockade campaign brought the 26 county bit of Ireland to a halt in the second week of April 2026.

Parties and individuals based on the left have offered significantly different opinions about these protests.

There is no doubt that far-right organisations are involved. This poses a big problem for all forces on the left – parties, trade unions, social movements that are pro-feminist and anti-racist, and so on.

It is essential to start with concrete analysis. Left-wing actors such as People Before Profit (PBP) say they support the blockaders :

“ There is “no question” that there are far-right people trying to intervene and be present in the protest…So some of these people (the far-right) are present and are trying to shape the protest, but one: the vast majority of people who are participating in the protest have nothing to do with the far right, whatsoever.
“And two: I really have a strong sense that ordinary working-class people in Dublin, people who live in Dublin South-West that I represent, have a lot of support for these protests,” Murphy said.

Paul Murphy TD, People Before Profit, Dublin South-West,
The left shouldn’t abandon fuel protesters, Paul Murphy says

The article below, and several other reliable sources, demonstrate that Paul Murphy’s analysis is based on wishful thinking rather than concrete analysis.

The far-right are not “trying to intervene and be present in the protest”. Far-right actors initiated this campaign.


This has serious implications for all forces on the Irish left.

Summing up: socialists have to recognise the hardships caused by high fuel prices (on top of all the other high prices). Blaming the right-wing government is fine. But – an extremely big But :

The Left must pledge : no co-operation with fuel-protester fascists and racists.

James Geoghegan is a spokesperson for the Fuel Protesters’ Campaign

The policy of the PBP and others on the left is “support the fuel protests”.

The only way you can implement this policy is practical collaboration with the far-right on the streets and elsewhere. That means putting the lives and welfare of your own members and supporters in danger.

The left can do much better – a useful starting point for for a more progressive policy is here, written by the SIPTU researcher, Michael Taft :


Searching the Evidence – Michael Taft

This immediate problem is down to Trump’s wars in Iran, Lebanon, and other parts of the Middle East.

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Man charged over a child-rape, CityWest racist riots; Despicable commentary by government and Sinn Féin representatives, echoed by irresponsible journalists

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Man charged over a child-rape, CityWest racist riots; Despicable commentary by government and Sinn Féin representatives, echoed by irresponsible journalists

Sinn Féin has a lot of influence, and is playing the racist card.

Listen to Matt Carthy TD, SF, Cavan-Monaghan.

Well-spotted by Saoirse McHugh; and well spoken by Eimer McAuley, a journalist.

Politicians defending despicable “legitimate concerns” protests have carried the ball up the pitch for the riots at CityWest

Politicians defending these despicable "legitimate concerns" protests have carried the ball up the pitch for the riots at citywest.Thank God Eimer is there cause none of these people, TDs included, seem to give a shit when it's a white Irish man brutalizing, abusing, or murdering women or children

Saoirse McHugh (@saoirsemc.bsky.social) 2025-10-23T06:48:13.676Z

Saoirse McHugh :

” Politicians defending these despicable “legitimate concerns” protests have carried the ball up the pitch for the riots at citywest. Thank God Eimer is there cause none of these people, TDs included, seem to give a shit when it ‘ s a white Irish man brutalizing, abusing, or murdering women or children”

Cedar Lounge Revolution :
Spot On, Cedar Lounge Revolution

The same message is promoted by irresponsible RTÉ journalists and government politicians such as Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan on news programmes and RTÉ’s Prime Time referencing “legitimate” concerns expressed by residents, contributing to a “consensus” that immigrants are the problem, and tougher deportation policies are needed.

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