The Paradox of the Emerald Isle: Why Is Ireland Flooded with Mass Immigration Despite its History of Victimhood? By Patrick O’Neil (Dublin)
In the shadow of its storied past, marked by the Great Famine, centuries of British "oppression," and waves of emigration that scattered millions of Irish across the globe, Ireland stands as an unlikely epicentre of modern mass immigration. A recent Infowars article titled "The Migrant Shelling, Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland Continues Unabated" paints a dire picture: waves of migrants allegedly "shelling" the nation, denying Irish ethnic identity, and celebrating a "new Ireland" where "whites are going extinct." The piece accuses globalist forces of orchestrating this as part of a "Great Replacement," turning the once-homogeneous island into a multicultural hub. But why Ireland? A nation that never colonised others, never profited from the slave trade, and itself endured 800 years of subjugation — why is it subjected to the same immigration pressures as former colonial powers like Britain or France? In this blog essay, we'll explore the historical ironies, economic drivers, policy decisions, and societal tensions fuelling this phenomenon, drawing from diverse sources to unpack the paradox.
Ireland's identity is forged in suffering. The Great Famine (1845-1852) alone killed a million and forced another million to flee, halving the population and seeding a diaspora that today numbers over 70 million descendants worldwide. For centuries, the Irish were the emigrants — escaping poverty, persecution, and lack of opportunity under British rule. As one historical analysis notes, "The primary motivation for the Irish leaving their homeland was poverty," a cycle that persisted into the 20th century. Unlike imperial powers, Ireland resisted colonisation rather than imposing it, making its current role as an immigration destination all the more ironic.
This reversal began in the 1990s with the "Celtic Tiger" economic boom. Rapid growth in tech, finance, and pharmaceuticals created labour shortages, transforming Ireland from a net emigration country to one of net immigration by 1996, the last EU state to make this shift. EU membership facilitated free movement, while global recruitment filled gaps in construction, healthcare, and IT. By 2022, Ireland's population surpassed 5 million for the first time since 1851, with net inward migration of about 520,000 since 2002. Today, 22% of residents are non-citizens, a figure that's doubled in two decades. Yet, this influx isn't just economic migrants; asylum seekers fleeing wars and persecution, or simply cashing in, have surged, straining a system designed for far fewer arrivals.
Critics like the Infowars piece argue this is no accident but a deliberate "siege" by globalists, inverting Ireland's ethnic homogeneity into a "globo race communist colony." While hyperbolic, it echoes concerns that Ireland's lack of colonial guilt makes it a soft target for policies that prioritise international obligations over national interests.
At its core, mass immigration stems from Ireland's economic model. The Celtic Tiger relied on foreign investment — think Google, Apple, and Pfizer — creating jobs but also demanding a flexible workforce. Non-EU migrants, often highly skilled, have filled critical roles: 45% hold third-level qualifications, exceeding the Irish average, and they bring linguistic diversity vital for exports.
Yet, criticisms mount. The housing crisis, exacerbated by population growth, has left rents sky-high and homelessness surging. Overwhelmed services, from healthcare to education, fuel resentment: "We cannot sustain a population of this country, many of which are living off social welfare," protesters lament. Anti-immigration sentiment has grown, with riots in Dublin and protests against asylum centers in rural areas. A 2023 survey found 70% of Sinn Féin voters believe too many immigrants arrive, associating it with crime and cultural loss. Despite overall positive attitudes (73% view immigration favourably, higher than EU averages), positivity dipped during recessions and amid recent surges.
Why no respite for Ireland? Its low corporate taxes and English-speaking workforce make it a magnet for multinationals, perpetuating labour demand. Unlike colonial powers with reparative immigration policies, Ireland's influx is market-driven, but global factors, EU directives and UN compacts, amplify it.
EU membership is a double-edged sword. The 2003 Nice Treaty enabled free movement, boosting inflows from Eastern Europe post-2004 enlargement. Asylum policies, harmonised across the bloc, require Ireland to process claims, even as arrivals hit records (over 200,000 new citizens since 2011). Critics decry "open borders" agendas, with the government prioritising migrants amid domestic crises. The Direct Provision system for asylum seekers — criticised for poor conditions — has been promised reform but persists, symbolising integration failures.
Ireland's emigration history fosters empathy: "The Irish themselves have fled hardship and hunger," making it historically pro-refugee. This "hundred thousand welcomes" ethos delayed anti-immigration politics, unlike in Britain or France. Yet, as one analysis notes, "An enduring colonial ghost plays a significant role," with anti-immigrant rhetoric tied to unresolved victimhood.
Globalism adds layers: conflicts drive asylum seekers, while Ireland's diaspora strategy, engaging emigrants for economic ties, mirrors its openness to inflows.
The Infowars narrative amplifies fears of "ethnic cleansing," with migrants allegedly claiming "my own city" and denying Irish bloodlines. While extreme, it reflects real divisions: Protests decry "Ireland is full," linking immigration to crime and decay.
Ireland's mass immigration paradox boils down to economics, empathy, and external pressures. Its non-colonial history hasn't shielded it; if anything, it amplified openness during booms, now clashing with resource strains. Unchecked inflows risk social fragmentation — housing crises, service overloads, and rising nativism. To navigate this, Ireland must reform policies: Prioritize skilled migration, invest in integration, and assert sovereignty within the EU. Or, like the rest of the West, sink into the dust of history, as whites really are replaced.
https://www.infowars.com/posts/the-migrant-shelling-ethnic-cleansing-of-ireland-continues-unabated
