September 19, 2024: Gardai and members of the Public Order Unit form a line to block protestors on Dublin's O'Connell Street.RollingNews.ie

An Garda Síochána provided an update on Thursday evening, September 19, after an anti-immigration protest and an anti-racism counter-protest were staged in Dublin's City Centre.

The Irish police force said on Thursday that in advance of the planned protests, it had a comprehensive policing operation in place at several locations in Dublin City Centre.

From early morning, 100 uniformed Gardaí were on duty to facilitate protests, An Garda Síochána said, including one that was led from O’Connell St to Leinster House on Kildare Street, and one at Grafton St. This operation was coordinated from a central Garda Control Room and led by a Chief Superintendent.

Gardaí were required to respond to a number of public order incidents during the course of the protests including one that occurred at Grafton Street at approximately 2:30 pm.

"In order to ensure the safety of all protestors and the general public, Gardaí implemented a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation with enforcement as a last resort," the police force said.

September 19, 2024: Members of the Gardai and the Public Order Unit keep the peace as anti-racist and anti-immigrant protestors gather at the junction of Grafton Street and Nassau Street. (RollingNews.ie)

The police force added that throughout the day, Gardaí engaged with protestors, and directions were given to those that had gathered at O’Connell Bridge to disperse from the area within the hour.

However, this direction was not adhered to and two Garda Public Order Units were subsequently deployed, An Garda Síochána said

A total of 19 arrests were made as part of Thursday's operation. An Garda Síochána said on Thursday no further information was available at the time.

September 19, 2024: Members of An Garda Síochána place a man in a Garda van on O'Connell Street. (RollingNews.ie)

An Garda Síochána said on Thursday that it was not currently aware of any injuries.

O’Connell Bridge and surrounding roads reopened and traffic was moving again as of Thursday evening.

Uniform Gardaí and Garda Public Order Units were set to remain on proactive patrol in Dublin City Centre for the remainder of Thursday evening.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Judging by public social media posts, Thursday's protest was organized by a group calling itself  'Citizen's of Éire' in late August. Promoting the march, one person wrote on social media: "We need 100,000 citizens [sic] to dissolve the Dáil."

According to RTÉ News, several hundred people gathered for Thursday's anti-immigration protest.

The Irish Times reports that Kildare councillor Tom McDonnell and unsuccessful local election candidates Ben Garrigan and Michelle Keane were among those to address the anti-immigration protesters on Molesworth Street. Hermann Kelly, leader of the Irish Freedom Party (IFP), was also present. 

People carried Irish tricolors, “Erin Go Bragh” banners, and flags displaying the slogan “You’ll Never Beat the Irish," the PA reports.

The group broke out in chants of “Irish Lives Matter," “Whose streets? Our streets,” and “Get them out, get them out."

A counter-protest was staged on Thursday by the group United Against Racism, which said it would not accept far-right groups marching through Dublin City Center "spreading their hate and making migrants and people of colour feel unsafe on our streets."

September 19, 2024: Scenes from the counter-protest in Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)

Announcing its counter-protest last week, the group added: "In Dundalk and Belfast, we have seen the far right sent packing thanks to the mass mobilisation of local communities who have made it clear that they are not welcome.

"It’s time we did the same in Dublin."