Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese said Irish people “have no right to be racist,” especially when remembering the likes of “No Irish Need Apply.” 

McAleese was speaking on a panel at the Jonathan Swift Festival along with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, economist David McWilliams and historian, Dr. Ida Miln, expressing concern on the growth of anti-immigrant and racist movements across Europe. 

“They find friends very easily now; they can reconfigure and find strength in numbers,” she said of the movement members. 

Noting that 17% of the Irish population are now from outside of Ireland, McAleese added, “I think in general we have done a wonderful job in absorbing [them].”

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“That is not to say that we have done a perfect job; that is not to say that we don’t have racism in our midst; that is not to say that some people who come here won’t experience the kind of racism that breaks your heart and makes you say, ‘hang on a minute, we were the people who were victims of racism, whether it was in England where it was ‘no Irish need apply’ or America. We have no right to behave like that,” the former President said. 

She continued to say that to have complacency about the growing anti-immigrant movements at this time would “not serve us well.” 

Representing the Irish government at the festival was Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, who told the Irish Independent: “I think what is important is that we aspire to represent all people and to be an inclusive society. That is what I want to see – respect for all colours, all creeds right across the board and respect diversity in all its forms.”

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