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The Irish Freedom Party sometimes referred to as IFP and initially known as the Irexit Freedom To Prosper Party,[7] is a minor far-right,[8] hard Eurosceptic[2] political party in Ireland, launched on 8 September 2018.[5][9] It advocates Irish withdrawal from the European Union. The party was founded by Hermann Kelly, former director of communications for Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy.[10]

Key Information

As of October 2025, the leadership of the party was disputed between a faction associated with Hermann Kelly and an executive body chaired by Michael Leahy.[11]

History

[edit]

Formation

[edit]

On 3 February 2018 an 'Irexit' conference was held in the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin, advocating an Irish withdrawal from the European Union. It was attended by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, author and columnist John Waters and academics Anthony Coughlan and Karen Devine.[12] Approximately 600 people attended.[13]

On 8 September 2018, a conference was held in the Bonnington Hotel in Dublin to launch the new party. Independent guest speakers at the launch included former Ambassador of Ireland to Canada Ray Bassett,[7] and Professor Ray Kinsella, a University College Dublin economist.[14] Approximately 400 people attended the event.[15]

Following its launch, the party held several regional public meetings,[16][17] including one in Raheen, County Limerick during which broadcaster George Hook spoke about the "politically correct" Irish media.[18] A hotel in Tralee which received multiple critical phone calls for hosting an Irish Freedom Party meeting, gave a statement to the Irish Independent affirming their commitment to hosting the meeting, saying "If it was a racist group or something that was socially unacceptable then we wouldn't be hosting it."[19]

George Hook addresses Irish Freedom Party Meeting

In late March 2019, the organisation launched a nationwide billboard campaign ahead of the European elections, reportedly funded by members of the party.[20] Sources from the Irish advertising industry estimated that this may have cost up to €40,000. The party did not answer questions from The Irish Times about whether the donations received are in line with Standards in Public Office (SIPO) Commission guidelines. Under those guidelines, a third party must register with the Commission if a donation exceeding €100 is accepted which is directed towards a political purpose. The party had not registered as a third party with SIPO.[21]

Public demonstrations

[edit]

The Irish Freedom Party has organised and participated in a number of public demonstrations since its formation. Supporters of the group were reported to have used 4chan to organise a rally in protest of Ireland's acceptance of the UN Migration Pact, outside Leinster House in December 2018. The rally was noted for drawing a counter-demonstration organised by People Before Profit, and attended by its party leader Richard Boyd Barrett. Gardaí estimated attendance at 250.[22]

In October 2019, it was reported that leaders of the IFP, along with other groups were assisting in the organisation of protests in Oughterard Galway against the founding a direct provision centre.[23] Up to 2,000 were estimated to have marched in the protest.[24] A similar smaller protest in Monaghan Ireland was said to have been "endorsed by Irish Freedom Party Leaders".[25]

In late 2019, the Irish Freedom Party, along with Renua and Yellow Vest Ireland organised two "free speech rallies", again outside Leinster House, in protest of proposed legislation by then Justice Minister Charles Flanagan to update laws regarding hate speech. The former taking place in November, included speakers such as Ben Gilroy, columnist Ian O'Doherty and Dolores Cahill.[26] The latter of the two rallies in December saw a sizeable counter demonstration from a collection of trade unions, faith groups and anti-racism organisations. Several hundred were estimated to have attended both the rally and counterdemonstration, with three arrests being made following scuffles between the two sides.[27]

In February 2020, members of Irish Freedom Party attended another "free speech" rally. This rally drew an estimated crowd size of 100 before being broken up by Gardaí due to violent clashes with counter-protestors, resulting in three more arrests. Party president Hermann Kelly claimed none of the members of the "free speech" protest were involved in violence.[28]

In July 2020, IFP along with Renua and The National Party, organised and participated in a protest against the appointment of Roderic O'Gorman as Children's Minister for the new Government. Speakers for the rally included Irish actor John Connors and Justin Barrett. The groups involved called the protest after a photo surfaced of O'Gorman alongside gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, who has been forced to defend comments he made in 1997 in which he spoke about sex between adults and children. The rally was condemned by many as homophobic and for the inclusion of nooses on National Party banners and placards. John Connors later publicly apologised for his attendance to which O'Gorman accepted, clarifying that the photo in question was the only time he had met Tatchell, and that he was previously unaware of his controversial comments.[29] Scuffles occurred with a small counterdemonstration, which was broken up by Gardai. No arrests were made.[30]

Rally in protest of Roderic O'Gorman in July 2020

Further protests rallies against Irish lockdown restrictions were organised and participated in from summer 2020 into 2021. Former chairperson Dolores Cahill and current chairperson Michael Leahy both spoke to a large crowd outside The Custom House, Dublin in August.[31] They would return on two more occasions to the Custom House for a march through the Dublin city centre in September, and another anti-lockdown rally in November, the latter featuring Kevin Sharkey as a speaker.[32][33]

In July 2021, Irish Freedom Party were among thousands who attended two protests against vaccine passports outside the Convention Centre Dublin, which was temporarily housing the Oireachtas.[34] Candidate for the party in the 2020 General Election, Ben Gilroy was among the speakers.[35]

A protest organised by the party in Limerick in December 2021 was reportedly dispersed after being challenged by up to 100 counter-protesters, reported to be mostly "young people with Pride flags". Gardaí dispersed the rally after scuffles broke out.[36] The party returned to the same site in March 2022 to host another rally and were met by a counter-demonstration again, however no violence occurred.[37]

A group launched in late 2023, Sinne na Daoine (Irish for "we the people") which has engaged in anti-immigration "patrols" across Ireland, has been associated with party members.[38][39] Party leader Hermann Kelly has described Sinne na Daoine as a "vigilante group".[40]

Elections

[edit]

In advance of the 2019 European Parliament election, the party reportedly "botched their [party registration] application" by failing to "tick its own box". Hermann Kelly admitted their application was rejected because of a mistake made by the party and that it would need to resubmit the form.[41][42] As a result, it was not registered as a political party before the deadline for nominations in the 2019 European elections (15 April 2019), and so candidates it had planned to put forward under the Irish Freedom Party name had to list themselves as independents. Hermann Kelly ran in the Dublin constituency, while party chairperson Dolores Cahill ran in the South constituency.[43][44] Neither candidate was elected, with party leader Herman Kelly receiving 2,441 (0.67%) first preference votes,[45] and Cahill receiving 10,582 (1.47%) first preference votes.[46] The party's registration was subsequently completed, and the Irish Freedom Party (IFP) was included on the Register of Political Parties as of 13 June 2019.[47]

The Irish Freedom Party contested its first election as a registered political party in the 2019 Wexford by-election, running Melissa O'Neill, a former member of Sinn Féin who served on Kilkenny County Council from 2014 to 2019. She received 489 (1.2%) first preference votes and was eliminated on the first count.[48][49][50]

Party member Conor Rafferty ran in Mid Ulster in the 2019 UK General Election, as an independent since the party is unregistered in Northern Ireland, receiving 690 votes (1.5%).[51]

The party fielded 11 candidates in the 2020 Irish general election, with none being elected.[52][53] Candidates received a share of first preference votes between 0.19% (119 votes) and 2.06% (956 votes) in their respective constituencies.[54][55] Party chairperson Dolores Cahill came second-last in the Tipperary constituency with 0.6% of first preference votes (521 votes).[56]

In March 2021, Cahill was asked to leave her position in the party and resigned as party chairperson.[57] In July of that year she went on to stand unsuccessfully as a non-party candidate, in the 2021 Dublin Bay South by-election, receiving 0.6% of first preference votes (169 votes).[58]

The party fielded 3 candidates in the 2024 European Parliament elections, with none being elected. Candidates received 29,709 (1.7%) first preference votes.[59] Party leader Hermann Kelly asked the "archdruid of Tara and Ireland" Michael McGrath, a former Nazi, to run for the party in Kilkenny but he declined the offer and instead ran as an independent (winning just 52 votes).[60]

In the 2024 Irish local elections, the party got its first elected representative when Glen Moore was elected to South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for the Palmerstown-Fonthill area.[61] However, in a Tweet dated to February 2025, Moore stated that he had resigned from the party citing disagreements with Herman Kelly's leadership and encouraging remaining members to join "other political parties that represent their values".[62] As of 2026, he sits as an independent councillor on SDCC.

Position regarding vaccines and lockdown

[edit]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Irish Freedom Party organised and had a number of representatives speak at multiple large anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown rallies.[63][64] One rally, held outside the Dublin Custom House in August at which Ben Gilroy and Dolores Cahill spoke, was attended by "hundreds" and reported to have passed off mostly peacefully, despite some instances of violence between attendees and counter protestors, after which four were arrested.[31][65][66]

Cahill, who was then a non-lecturing professor of translational medicine at University College Dublin,[67][68] also spoke at an anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown event in London,[69] which later lead to a warrant for her arrest in the UK.[70] In a video, published in May 2020 but later removed by YouTube, she claimed that COVID-19 could be cured or curtailed by "eating healthily and taking vitamins C and D",[71][72] that there was "no need for a vaccine" because people who recover have life-long immunity, and advocated using hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin as COVID-19 treatments.[71][72][73] The party "agreed to accept [Cahill's] resignation" several days after it sent a letter to Cahill about her unsubstantiated statements,[70] including those made at an anti-lockdown rally about "children who wore face masks [..] being starved of oxygen and would have lower IQ" and "globalists [..] pulling down the masks [because] oxygen-deprived people are easier to manipulate".[67][74] Cahill's replacement, Michael Leahy, stated that Cahill "was making certain pronouncements that we felt we couldn't stand over and [..] it resulted in her resignation".[75] A correspondence obtained by the Irish Independent later found that Cahill had been asked for her resignation.[57]

In 2021, IFP joint-published a COVID-19 information leaflet (with Direct Democracy Ireland and Renua) advocating against the use of lockdowns as a means of controlling a virus which the leaflet stated was "harmless to the vast majority". A fact check from TheJournal.ie stated that these claims were "misleading and false".[76]

2025 leadership split

[edit]

The party split in 2025 over the issue of Hermann Kelly's leadership. In May 2025, a number of party members passed a motion to remove Kelly as president and create a three-person committee to lead unity talks with other right-wing parties.[77][78] As part of these negotiations with the other political parties, British political activist Jim Ferguson chaired a meeting which included Michael Leahy (IFP), Malachy Steenson (independent) and Derek Blighe (Ireland First).[79]

In September 2025, Hermann Kelly called an Ardfheis of the party and the IFP website was subsequently updated to state that Kelly had been re-elected as party president at the meeting.[80] However, Michael Leahy later stated that the meeting was invalid and held without the approval of the "interim committee". Leahy moved to oust Kelly as a party member in October 2025,[11] and later stated that Kelly had "been expelled".[81] An article in The Phoenix magazine, from October 2025, suggested that the matter remained contested between the Kelly and Leahy factions.[11]

Controversies

[edit]

Fake candidate

[edit]

In early March 2019, a number of regional newspapers reported that a party-member named 'Mairead Donovan' was listed on the organisation's website, and would be running as a candidate for local elections for Kerry County Council.[82] The Ireland edition of The Times later reported that the candidate did not exist, and that the website image was a stock photograph.[83] In responding to these reports, party spokesperson Hermann Kelly acknowledged the mistake and fault in allowing the placeholder profile and stock imagery to be published on the website,[83] and clarified that the group was not planning to run any candidates in local elections.[84]

Dolores Cahill

[edit]

Prior to her resignation from IFP in March 2021, party chairperson Dolores Cahill stoked anger for hosting a party, amid Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, of up to 60 guests at her castle in Athy Kildare.[85] Cahill also promoted COVID-19 related conspiracy theories, stating that "globalists" pushed for mandatory mask wearing because "oxygen-deprived people are easier to manipulate".[86]

Confrontation at rallies in Limerick

[edit]

In December 2021, the party organised a rally in Bedford Row, Limerick city which attracted approximately 100 counter-protestors. It was alleged that an IFP supporter tried to tear an LGBT flag from the hands of a counter-protestor and shouted homophobic slurs and made death threats.[87] The IFP held another rally in Limerick in March 2022, which was "drowned out" by approximately 100 counter-protestors, many of whom carried LGBT flags. Following the disruptions, IFP chairman Michael Leahy rejected claims the IFP are homophobic and said the LGBT rainbow flag was "beautiful" and "symbolises acceptance of diversity and unity in difference". He accused the anti-fascist counter-protestors of themselves engaging in "fascist tactics".[37]

[edit]

The party has links to far-right German judge Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, who was arrested in December 2022 as part of a series of arrests by the German government as part of a crackdown against a conspiracy to launch a coup d'état and install an imperial dictatorship in Germany. The movement behind the plot has been described as "a loose alliance of neo-Nazis and conspiracy theorists who deny the legitimacy of the modern German state". Malsack-Winkemann spoke at an Irish Freedom Party event in August 2020, after which Hermann Kelly entertained her and her daughter by showing them the Celtic high crosses at Monasterboice. They were also photographed outside a pub. In May 2021, Kelly took part in a two-hour discussion with Ms Malsack-Winkemann and another AfD Bundestag member, Norbert Kleinwächter. They discussed opposition to Covid lockdown measures and arguments in favour of leaving the European Union.[88][89]

Candidate charged with possession of knife

[edit]

A candidate from the IFP, Paul Fitzsimons, who was contesting the 2024 Fingal County Council elections in Ongar, was charged with public order offences and possession of a knife at a protest in Dublin in February 2024.[90] As he was "running in the local election", Fitzsimons reportedly requested that the related court hearing be set to a date after the June 2024 elections.[91] While the charges relating to the knife were dismissed, in April 2025 Fitzsimons was found guilty of two public order offences arising from the incident.[92]

Ideology

[edit]

Aside from advocating an exit from the EU, the party states that it is a "patriotic party" which is "pro-natalist and supportive of stable families for procreation".[9] The party has published policies in favour of preserving freedom of speech and association. On economic policy, the IFP supports reduced government spending and lower taxes,[93]

It advocates independence from "either London or Brussels", desiring to leave the EU and to re-unify Ireland by consent.[94] It advocates "zero tolerance" of corruption and the "separation of powers" in the state.[95]

Climate policy

[edit]

Party chairman, Michael Leahy has stated that he is "sceptical of climate change," calling it "hyper alarmism." He however says he is in favour "alternative energy sources because we are running out of fossil fuels".[96] The party is opposed to the carbon tax.[93]

Great Replacement conspiracy theory

[edit]

Some commentators have linked party leader Hermann Kelly with alt-right ideologies, pointing to a YouTube interview in which Kelly appeared in 2018 alongside far-right activist and former British National Party member Jim Dowson.[6][97][98] In the video Kelly said "The first thing they want to do is kill Irish kids and [they] want to replace them with every nationality who wants to come into our country", a statement which several news outlets associated with the great replacement conspiracy theory.[98]

In 2019, Kelly stated that "those talking about a Great Replacement in Ireland have a point",[99] and in an interview with LifeSiteNews, referred to what he called the "great replacement of our children".[100] Kelly later stated that he believes in "one human race" and has not supported "theories of racial superiority".[101]

Vaccines

[edit]

Hermann Kelly has been described as "waging a war" against mandatory vaccinations and vaccination certificates. As of 2021, he was serving as press officer to Romanian MEP Cristian Terheș of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, who consistently declined to show proof of vaccination upon entering the European Parliament.[102]

LGBT rights

[edit]

The party has been accused of promoting an anti-LGBT, homophobic and conspiracy agenda, including by the Global Project against Hate and Extremism.[103] IFP chairman Michael Leahy has rejected this claim and stated that the group has "no policy whatever in regard to discrimination against homosexuals".[37]

Election results

[edit]

Dáil Éireann

[edit]
Election Leader 1st pref
votes 		% Seats ± Government
2020 Hermann Kelly 5,495 0.3 (#10)
0 / 160
 New Extra-parliamentary
2024 14,838 0.6 (#10)
0 / 174
 Steady Extra-parliamentary

European Parliament

[edit]
Election Leader 1st pref
Votes 		% Seats +/− EP Group
2024 Hermann Kelly 29,709 1.70 (#13)
0 / 14
 New −

Local elections

[edit]
Election Seats won ± First pref. votes %
2024
1 / 949
 Increase 1 9,500 0.5%

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Irish Freedom Party

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Irish Freedom Party is a minor political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded in September 2018 by journalist Hermann Kelly, who serves as its president. The party's primary objective is to restore Ireland's national independence and sovereignty by advocating for withdrawal from the European Union, citing the need to regain control over immigration, borders, and economic policy from supranational institutions. It positions itself as a defender of Irish democracy, emphasizing controlled immigration to prioritize the interests of Irish citizens, a smaller state apparatus with reduced taxation to foster entrepreneurship, and preservation of constitutional protections for marriage and family as outlined in Articles 40 and 41. Despite contesting local, , and general elections, the party has yet to secure seats in the or significant electoral success, receiving marginal vote shares in the 2024 general election amid a fragmented field of candidates. The IFP has gained visibility through public demonstrations, including rallies against perceived failures in managing mass and asylum pressures, which it attributes to open-border policies and EU directives eroding national cohesion. Controversies surrounding the party often stem from its opposition to government stances on these issues, with coverage in mainstream outlets frequently framing its views through lenses of despite reliance on data regarding shortages, correlations, and strains linked to rapid demographic changes—concerns amplified by independent analyses but downplayed in institutionally biased reporting.

Origins and Historical Development

Founding as Irexit Freedom to Prosper Party

The Irexit: Freedom to Prosper party was established on September 8, 2018, during its inaugural held at the in . The founding was led by , a former director of communications for the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group in the , who assumed the role of party president. Kelly, drawing from his experience in Eurosceptic circles associated with figures like , positioned the party as an advocate for Ireland's exit from the , modeled on the United Kingdom's process, to reclaim national sovereignty over areas such as trade, fishing rights, and law-making. The party's launch occurred amid heightened post-Brexit discussions in Ireland, where proponents argued that EU membership constrained economic independence and imposed supranational policies misaligned with Irish interests, including agriculture and border controls. Kelly emphasized during the founding event that the initiative aimed to foster prosperity through deregulation and direct democratic reforms, rather than isolationism, with plans to contest the 2019 European Parliament elections on this platform. Initial supporters included a mix of attendees from diverse ideological backgrounds, united by opposition to deepening EU integration following referendums on treaties like Lisbon. The party's manifesto at inception focused on auditing Ireland's EU contributions versus benefits, critiquing net fiscal outflows, and advocating for repatriation of competencies to the Oireachtas. Registration efforts followed the launch, with the party seeking formal recognition from the Clerk of to enable electoral participation, though it faced skepticism from established political figures who dismissed Irexit aspirations as economically unviable given Ireland's export reliance on markets. Despite limited initial media coverage beyond niche outlets, the founding marked the emergence of an explicitly Eurosceptic vehicle in Irish politics, distinct from softer reformist voices within mainstream parties like . Kelly's address at the event underscored a commitment to non-violent, democratic means for achieving , rejecting comparisons to extremist movements while prioritizing empirical assessments of impacts on Irish fisheries and small businesses.

Rebranding and Evolution

The Irexit Freedom to Prosper Party, founded on September 8, 2018, rebranded to the Irish Freedom Party in 2019 through updates to its official paperwork. This name change broadened the party's identity from a narrow focus on "Irexit"—Ireland's potential exit from the —to a more general emphasis on national sovereignty, personal freedoms, and democratic restoration. , the party's founder and president, described the evolution as aligning with Ireland's historical struggle for , while retaining as a core tenet. Post-rebranding, the Irish Freedom Party expanded its platform to critique government overreach during the , opposing lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and related restrictions as infringements on individual rights and economic liberty. The party participated in protests against these measures, framing them as symptoms of diminished national autonomy under EU-influenced policies. This shift marked a pivot from EU-specific advocacy to wider domestic issues, including and protection of Irish cultural identity. By the early 2020s, the party's evolution incorporated stronger positions on control, arguing that unchecked inflows threatened Ireland's demographic stability and social cohesion. In local elections from 2019 onward, candidates emphasized these themes alongside , achieving modest vote shares that reflected growing public discontent with establishment policies. Internal dynamics, including leadership disputes between Kelly and figures like Michael Leahy by late 2024, tested the party's cohesion but did not alter its core trajectory toward nationalist .

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Key Figures and Roles

, a former journalist and communications director for the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group in the , founded the Irish Freedom Party in September 2018 under its original name, the Irexit Freedom to Prosper Party. He has served continuously as the party's president, leading its rebranding to the Irish Freedom Party in 2020 and directing its focus on national sovereignty, immigration restriction, and opposition to EU integration. Kelly's background includes work as a press officer for figures associated with advocacy, which informed the party's initial Eurosceptic platform. Luke O'Connor assumed the role of chairman in September 2025, succeeding prior leadership amid efforts to reorganize and advance the party's electoral strategy. As chairman, O'Connor oversees party meetings and coordinates activism, particularly in regions like Kilkenny, where he has represented the party in media discussions on immigration enforcement and government policy critiques. The current executive committee also features Patrice Johnson as , responsible for administrative records and correspondence, and Eamon McGee as national organiser, handling membership recruitment and event logistics across . Earlier leadership included Dolores Cahill, a University College Dublin professor of immunology, who chaired the party from its founding until June 2021, when she resigned following public criticism of her views on COVID-19 vaccines and lockdowns, which she argued were overstated in risk and efficacy based on immunological data. Michael Leahy, a founding member and farmer from County Clare, replaced Cahill as chairman in March 2021, emphasizing the party's commitment to democratic renewal during his tenure until the 2025 transition. The party's structure, outlined in its constitution, vests operational authority in the Ard Chomhairle executive, which elects officers annually and manages internal disputes, though recent years saw resignations among candidates and a councillor in late 2024 over directional disagreements.

Membership Growth and Internal Dynamics

The Irish Freedom Party has demonstrated limited organizational expansion since its inception, primarily evidenced by the scale of its electoral participation rather than disclosed membership figures. The party, which began with minimal structure, fielded a single candidate in its first registered contest, the 2019 Wexford . This progressed to nominating 27 candidates in the 2024 local elections across 28 constituencies, where it received about 9,500 first-preference votes at an average of roughly 350 per candidate, reflecting a small but growing activist base without achieving seats. No official membership totals have been publicly released, consistent with the opaque reporting practices of minor Irish parties, though executive appointments in September 2025 added figures such as Fergus Nolan as treasurer, indicating efforts to bolster administrative roles amid ongoing operations. Internally, the party has been characterized by recurrent tensions and factionalism, often centered on leadership authority under president Hermann Kelly. Infighting intensified in late 2024 and early 2025, triggered by electoral disappointments and strategic disagreements, leading to mass resignations among candidates and senior members protesting Kelly's direction. By April 2025, power struggles had fractured the organization, with public disputes exacerbating member dissatisfaction and contributing to a perception of instability. A pivotal conflict emerged in mid-2025 when party chairman Michael Leahy, an architect by profession, tabled a motion to oust Kelly, which passed unanimously at a meeting following an online member vote where 63% favored removal; Leahy positioned this as a step toward unifying like-minded groups. Kelly's supporters rejected the move's validity, issuing statements in October 2025 affirming that Leahy held no representative authority and emphasizing continuity under Kelly's presidency, alongside a new chairman Luke O'Connor. These disputes, including accusations of disruptive elements and dual party memberships influencing internal votes, have hindered cohesion, though the party continued public activities like a registered delegate meeting in September 2025.

Core Principles and Policy Platform

National Sovereignty and Euroscepticism

The Irish Freedom Party advocates for Ireland's withdrawal from the European Union, termed "Irexit," as a means to restore full national sovereignty over domestic law-making, , currency, trade, borders, taxation, fisheries, , and . The party's policy document outlines this as a long-term objective, arguing that EU membership erodes Ireland's by subordinating national decisions to supranational institutions in . In the interim, the party proposes repatriating powers from the , reducing Ireland's budget contributions, safeguarding tax sovereignty against measures like the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB), and enhancing rights in Irish waters. To advance Eurosceptic goals, the Irish Freedom Party calls for a referendum on EU membership under specific triggers, such as the departure of another net contributor nation, EU actions undermining Irish economic interests, or threats to Ireland's military neutrality. It pledges to exercise Ireland's veto in EU decision-making to block further enlargements until structural reforms occur and opposes the development of a common EU foreign policy. Additional measures include withdrawing Irish Defence Forces from EU Battle Groups and symbolically reintroducing the green Irish passport to distinguish from other EU documents, alongside separate airport queues for Irish versus other EU passport holders. The party's Euroscepticism extends to critiquing EU policies perceived as detrimental to Irish priorities, such as opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade deal to protect domestic agriculture, and resistance to initiatives like the EU Migration Pact, which it views as infringing on border control. Party president Hermann Kelly has emphasized that EU integration has transformed the bloc beyond its original treaty commitments, necessitating withdrawal to reclaim legislative autonomy. This position aligns with the party's origins, initially launched as the Irexit Freedom to Prosper Party in 2018 amid Brexit debates, reflecting a consistent prioritization of sovereignty over supranational governance.

Immigration Control and Demographic Concerns

The Irish Freedom Party advocates for strict controls on to prioritize the interests of Irish citizens, emphasizing that mass immigration has strained housing, public services, and social cohesion. The party proposes replacing the current system with a points-based work visa limited to five years and non-renewable, favoring applicants with English proficiency and skills not available domestically. Visas would be tied to specific , with new businesses required to maintain at least 50% Irish , and carriers mandated to verify visas or before allowing travel to . The party calls for ending Ireland's participation in the United Nations Global Compact for Migration and reforming the asylum process to better distinguish genuine refugees from economic migrants, including expedited repatriation for those arriving without valid documents via secure holding facilities. Citizenship would require passing an exam on Irish history, culture, law, and basic language skills, with revocation and deportation for serious criminal convictions after serving sentences. Additional measures include penalties for employers or landlords harboring undocumented individuals and termination of investor "cash-for-residency" schemes. Regarding demographics, the party expresses alarm over Ireland's rapid population growth—among the fastest in the European Union—primarily driven by immigration rather than native births, warning that continued trends could erode the Irish ethnic majority and national identity. Party statements highlight data showing non-Irish nationals comprising a growing share of the population, linking this shift to increased crime rates, including stabbings and sexual assaults, and cultural changes in urban areas like Dublin. To counter Europe's broader demographic decline, the Irish Freedom Party supports pro-natalist policies, including reversal of abortion legalization and enhanced family supports to boost Irish birth rates. Housing policy under this framework prioritizes Irish nationals for social housing allocations, opposing dual-list systems that favor non-citizens and arguing that demographic pressures from immigration exacerbate shortages for native families. The party's rhetoric frames uncontrolled immigration as a risk of political elites enabling a replacement of the Irish population, advocating "controlled immigration not mass migration" to preserve sovereignty and cultural continuity.

Economic and Fiscal Policies

The Irish Freedom Party advocates for a low-tax, fiscally conservative approach emphasizing reduced intervention to promote individual enterprise and family prosperity. The party positions itself as committed to lowering the overall burden on working individuals and families, arguing that high taxes disincentivize and exacerbate cost-of-living pressures. This stance aligns with broader Eurosceptic critiques of supranational fiscal policies, including opposition to EU-driven increases in environmental levies that the party views as punitive to Irish households. Key proposals include the abolition or reduction of specific levies deemed inefficient or ideologically motivated, such as the Universal Social Charge (USC), , and , which the party claims inflate living expenses without delivering proportional public benefits. They pledge to cut and reform structures to expand tax credits for home carers, aiming to make family-based care more viable and reward domestic labor over state dependency. On the expenditure side, the party targets "wasteful" outlays, including foreign aid, funding for International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centers, and budgets, redirecting resources toward Irish citizens' priorities like infrastructure and welfare for nationals. Fiscal policy is intertwined with the party's nationalist priorities, prioritizing economic sovereignty through potential withdrawal from EU fiscal frameworks to regain control over taxation and spending autonomy. Proponents within the party, including leader Hermann Kelly, assert that such measures would incentivize work and enterprise by lowering personal and property taxes, fostering a competitive domestic economy less reliant on foreign direct investment vulnerable to global shifts. Critics from establishment sources have labeled these positions populist, but the party counters that empirical evidence from low-tax jurisdictions supports growth without commensurate welfare expansions.

Public Health and Pandemic Response

![Hands Off Our Kids rally in Dublin][float-right] The Irish Freedom Party expressed strong opposition to government lockdown measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, viewing them as infringements on fundamental rights to work, travel, worship, and family association. Party leader Hermann Kelly criticized lockdowns as attacks on civil liberties, as articulated in public statements from April 2021. The party organized and participated in anti-lockdown protests, positioning itself as a vocal opponent of restrictive public health policies. In response to vaccine-related mandates and certificates, the Irish Freedom Party campaigned against vaccination certificates in the , with Kelly leading efforts to oppose requirements for proof of vaccination, negative tests, or recovery for access to public spaces and employment. The party's policy document explicitly opposes mandatory vaccination, advocating instead for screening programs to identify individuals intolerant to vaccines, such as those with autoimmune, genetic, blood, or heart disorders. Beyond the , the Irish Freedom Party proposes reforms to Ireland's (HSE), including attractive salary packages to retain nurses and consultants, major investments in home and social care to alleviate hospital pressures, and the establishment of rural clinics for trauma and diagnostics to reduce waiting lists. Additional measures include removing private beds from the public system to prioritize Irish patients and providing incentives for Irish-trained doctors and nurses to serve domestically for at least three years post-education. These policies aim to address systemic inadequacies, such as Ireland's high cancer rates, by emphasizing prevention, early detection screening, and workforce retention.

Environmental and Climate Stance

The Irish Freedom Party acknowledges that is occurring and has taken place over millennia, adopting a non-alarmist perspective that rejects what it describes as "climate hysteria" and prioritizes ecological conservation over what it terms "carbon ." The party emphasizes Ireland's minimal global contribution to CO2 emissions, estimated at 0.1%, arguing that domestic policies cannot significantly impact worldwide trends. The party firmly opposes es, asserting there is no evidence they reduce emissions and characterizing them as unjust measures that disproportionately burden rural communities and low-income workers. It specifically rejects proposals to raise the carbon tax to €1500 per year by 2030, viewing such increases as economically harmful without environmental benefits. This stance extends to criticism of EU-driven net-zero policies, which the party claims damage Ireland's rural economy and impose undue control from . In environmental policy, the Irish Freedom Party advocates for targeted actions against chemical pollution, including the elimination of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and research into the health impacts of fluoride, glyphosate in water supplies, and microplastics in food chains. It supports promoting broadleaf forestry for biodiversity, exploring tidal energy as a sustainable alternative, and conserving natural habitats, while opposing the proliferation of wind turbines due to their landscape disruption, wildlife harm, and high costs. Overall, the party positions itself in favor of a "clean and green Ireland" through practical, sovereignty-focused measures rather than international climate accords.

Social and Cultural Positions

The Irish Freedom Party regards the family as the foundation of society and essential for raising responsible citizens, advocating policies to alleviate financial burdens on married couples where one parent stays at home. It proposes ending tax individualization, which disadvantages approximately 80,000 such households, and reinstating child tax allowances to incentivize parenthood. The party promotes pro-natalist measures, emphasizing childbirth as vital for cultural and societal continuity amid demographic pressures. In education, the party commits to state-funded school books and transport while opposing parental "voluntary contributions." It rejects compulsory sex education curricula promoting LGBTQI ideology, pornography literacy, and abortion advocacy, deeming them inappropriate indoctrination that overrides parental rights; it supports retaining proven programs like Stay Safe and SPHE, and classifies children's access to online pornography as abuse. The party also vows to bar taxpayer-funded schools from EU initiatives such as the Blue Star Programme, viewed as child indoctrination. On gender-related matters, it prioritizes biological reality to safeguard children from what it terms "trans grooming," women's spaces, and sports, while calling for merit-based hiring and phasing out quotas to eliminate anti-male discrimination in the public sector. The party seeks to overturn Ireland's abortion legalization, pursuing a "heartbeat" law to prohibit procedures after fetal heartbeat detection, mandating pain relief for the unborn, and requiring full medical aid for any infants delivered alive during abortions. It aims to enhance legal, financial, and cultural supports for preborn life in the interim. Culturally, the Irish Freedom Party pledges to preserve and promote Ireland's heritage against globalization and digital homogenization, insisting Irish history and culture remain core subjects in primary and junior cycle secondary education. It identifies multiculturalism as a threat to social cohesion and national survival as a distinct cultural entity, rejecting identity politics and grievance narratives that foster societal division. The party prioritizes community safety through harsher penalties for violent crimes and innovative tools like Community Protection Orders. The party organized the "Hands off our Kids" rally on July 11, 2020, outside Dáil Éireann to protest policies perceived as endangering children, including education reforms under Minister Roderic O'Gorman.

Electoral Participation and Results

Early Contests and Local Elections

The Irish Freedom Party, formerly known as the Irexit Freedom to Prosper Party, entered electoral politics with its participation in the 2024 Irish local elections held on 7 June 2024 across all 31 local authorities. The party fielded 28 candidates, primarily in local electoral areas (LEAs) in counties including Dublin, Louth, Galway, Sligo, and others, focusing on urban and rural districts with vocal concerns over immigration and housing. Candidates included Glen Moore in Palmerstown-Fonthill (South Dublin County), John Oakes in Balbriggan (Fingal County), and Patrice Johnson in Drogheda (Louth), among others selected for their alignment with the party's platform on national sovereignty and demographic preservation. Despite contesting multiple LEAs, the party's performance yielded limited success, securing only one council seat. Glen Moore was elected in the Palmerstown-Fonthill LEA of , marking the party's sole victory amid broader gains by established parties like and . In other contests, candidates such as Tracy O'Hanlon in Dundalk-Carlingford (Louth) and Amanda Gallagher in Sligo-Drumcliffe advanced to later counts but were ultimately eliminated without securing seats. The party's first-preference vote share contributed to a combined 1.7% for it and similar minor parties like and Ireland First, reflecting niche support in areas affected by recent migration pressures but insufficient for widespread breakthroughs. Prior to the 2024 locals, the Irish Freedom Party had not contested major national or elections, with its activities limited to and public demonstrations rather than challenges. This debut highlighted organizational growth from its origins as a Eurosceptic group but underscored the hurdles for new entrants in Ireland's preferential voting system, where transfers from larger parties often marginalize smaller ones. The single seat provided a foothold for influence, particularly on issues like allocation and resources in Moore's .

National and European Campaigns

The Irish Freedom Party, operating under its previous name of Irexit Freedom to Prosper Party during the , fielded candidates in that national contest but achieved negligible results, with party president securing only 570 first-preference votes in Louth. No seats were won, and overall vote shares remained below 1% nationally for the party's slate. In the on June 7, contested the Midlands–North-West constituency on a platform emphasizing Irish sovereignty and opposition to policies on and integration. While exact vote totals for Kelly were not prominently reported in major outlets, post-election commentary noted the result as underwhelming for candidates, with the party failing to secure representation among Ireland's 14 MEPs. The party expanded its national presence in the November 29, 2024, general election, running candidates in multiple constituencies as mapped on its official website, including high-profile efforts in areas affected by immigration debates. Hermann Kelly again stood in Louth, polling 2,546 first-preference votes—approximately 4% of the constituency total—and doubling his European election performance from earlier that year, though still falling short of a seat under Ireland's proportional representation system. The broader campaign highlighted ballot-box advocacy over protests, but the party won no Dáil seats amid fragmented anti-immigration voting. Kelly described the Louth effort as a foundational step for future growth despite the outcome.

Public Engagement and Activities

Protests and Demonstrations

The Irish Freedom Party has participated in and organized protests primarily focused on opposition to mass , accommodations, and earlier concerns over restrictions and policies. These demonstrations often emphasize local community impacts, , and policy critiques, with the party advocating for peaceful assembly while distancing itself from violence. In July 2020, party leader endorsed the "Hands off our Kids" rally held on July 11 outside in , drawing concerned parents demanding the removal of Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman over perceived threats to child welfare from government initiatives. The event highlighted early party engagement in protests, aligning with its cultural positions. The party supported demonstrations against passports in during July 2021, joining thousands who marched from Quay along O’Connell Street to , protesting restrictions as infringements on freedoms; internal party figures, including a former chairperson, spoke at related anti-lockdown events. Immigration-related protests form the bulk of IFP activities, often in coalition with local residents opposing unconsulted asylum placements. In November 2022, party members joined 200-300 protesters in Dublin’s East Wall neighborhood against housing nearly 400 asylum seekers in a former ESB building, part of ongoing demonstrations after failed government talks. Similar involvement occurred in May 2023 marches to Mount Street targeting asylum encampments, where confrontations arose before Gardaí intervention. IFP directly organized a February 20, 2024, in , Louth, against the d Hotel’s impending use to house 500 asylum seekers from March 5, drawing a few hundred attendees; president and local candidates addressed the crowd for over two hours, emphasizing town impacts, with the event passing peacefully under heavy policing. On April 26, 2025, Kelly participated in a anti-immigration rally commemorating the , attended by thousands waving Tricolours and chanting against open borders, managed alongside a without major incidents. In August 2025, national organizer Doran McMahon led a "Gathering of the Tribes" anti-immigration in Galway with about 150 participants, citing safety concerns from IPAS centers; verbal clashes with counter-groups were separated by Gardaí. Kelly has publicly backed hundreds of local rallies nationwide against asylum centers, framing them as grassroots responses to policy failures rather than ideological extremism. The party consistently promotes non-violent action, condemning riots like those near Dublin’s Citywest Hotel in October 2025.

Media Presence and Advocacy

The Irish Freedom Party has cultivated a media presence predominantly through alternative, independent, and international outlets, reflecting constraints on access to mainstream Irish media. Party president Hermann Kelly featured in an interview on Fox News on October 22, 2025, addressing immigration and national sovereignty issues. Earlier, Kelly appeared on TalkTV with Alex Phillips on July 8, 2024, discussing EU withdrawal and policy priorities. The party also engaged with Gript Media, conducting an in-depth interview with John McGuirk ahead of the June 2024 European Parliament elections. Domestic radio appearances include candidate John Bowler's segment on Radio Kerry in January 2020, focusing on EU borders and housing pressures. Kelly has further advocated on One America News Network (OANN), critiquing open-border immigration policies. The party's YouTube channel serves as a platform for policy videos and direct addresses, aiming to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. Mainstream coverage remains sparse and often contextualized within broader narratives on or unrest, such as incidental mentions during 2019 RTE discussions or post-riot analyses in . In 2021, the Press Ombudsman upheld the descriptor "far-right" for the party as acceptable in reporting, a ruling contested for lacking evidential basis. efforts emphasize amplification via and targeted campaigns, including billboard submissions rejected by companies like in May 2024, highlighting perceived institutional barriers. These engagements underscore the party's strategy of leveraging sympathetic platforms to promote Euroscepticism, immigration controls, and national independence, amid claims of systemic underrepresentation in state-funded media like RTE.

Reception, Criticisms, and Debates

Political Classifications and Supporter Views

The Irish Freedom Party self-identifies as a moderate nationalist entity committed to restoring full Irish sovereignty, implementing direct democracy mechanisms such as citizens' initiatives and referenda, and advancing policies that prioritize national self-determination over supranational authority. Its foundational principles emphasize democratic reunification of Ireland, fiscal conservatism through reduced taxation and balanced budgets, and protection of Irish economic interests from globalization's adverse effects. Media and academic sources with left-leaning orientations commonly classify the party as far-right or right-wing populist, attributing this to its hard Euroscepticism—initially rooted in advocacy for Irish exit from the EU (Irexit)—and stringent anti-immigration positions that seek to halt mass inflows and prioritize citizens for housing and services. These labels often reflect institutional biases favoring multiculturalism and EU integration, framing opposition to rapid demographic changes as inherently extremist despite empirical correlations between immigration surges and strains on Ireland's infrastructure since 2015, including over 100,000 asylum applications processed by mid-2024. Supporters perceive the party as a bulwark against establishment complacency on sovereignty erosion and cultural dilution, valuing its calls for Irish-first policies amid housing crises where net migration exceeded 140,000 in 2023 alone, exacerbating waitlists for social that reached 50,000 households. They endorse the party's rejection of what they term unchecked globalism, including EU-driven open borders and supranational mandates, in favor of localized decision-making to safeguard and economic stability. Voter backing, though modest—yielding localized council seats in elections—concentrates in regions with direct exposure to asylum facilities and urban deprivation, where public sentiment prioritizes resource allocation to native populations over international obligations. In 2019, the party, then known as Irexit Freedom to Prosper, accepted donations exceeding €100 for political purposes without being properly registered as a political party with the Standards in Public Office Commission, breaching electoral laws that require such registration before soliciting funds. The party later refunded a €101 donation in 2020 after it was deemed an attempt to provoke investigation, though party officials described it as mischievous rather than a substantive violation. During the same year, the party faced embarrassment when a purported , Helen Donovan, was exposed as fictitious; her profile was traced to a stock photo of an unrelated individual, and no such person confirmed participation, raising questions about nomination processes ahead of local elections. Rallies organized or attended by party members in Limerick led to confrontations with counter-protesters in December 2021 and March 2022, resulting in gardaí dispersals and physical scuffles between groups, including young activists waving flags opposing the event; no major arrests were reported directly tied to party leadership, but the incidents highlighted tensions over the party's anti-immigration and anti-lockdown stances. In March 2021, party chair Dolores Cahill resigned following backlash over unsubstantiated claims at an anti-lockdown rally that children wearing face masks would suffer permanent IQ reductions due to oxygen deprivation, prompting internal calls for her departure amid scrutiny from academic and health authorities. The party hosted German politician Birgit Malsack-Winkemann as a speaker at its 2020 conference; she was later arrested in December 2022 as part of a plot to overthrow the German government, drawing media associations between the event and far-right networks, though no Irish legal actions ensued against IFP members. Multiple candidates faced criminal charges related to protests and personal conduct. In April 2024, Paul Fitzsimons was charged with public order offenses and unlawful possession of a knife during a Dublin demonstration; he avoided jail in April 2025 after pleading guilty, citing activism context. A Leitrim candidate was arrested in late April 2024 for alleged criminal damage at a hotel housing asylum seekers, posting a video from the scene days later. In September 2025, Sligo candidate James Conway faced charges for threats and causing €21,000 in property damage, unrelated to party activities. Party leader Hermann Kelly lodged several complaints with the Press Ombudsman against media outlets, including upheld breaches for inaccurate reporting on member arrests in 2022 and a 2023 Extra.ie article, while others, such as a 2021 Journal claim, were dismissed. In April 2024, a complaint was filed with European Parliament security alleging Kelly knocked a journalist's phone during an altercation in Brussels, though no formal charges resulted.

Critiques from Mainstream and Left-Leaning Sources

Mainstream Irish media outlets, such as The Irish Times and The Journal.ie, have routinely described the Irish Freedom Party as a far-right entity, associating it with broader narratives of rising extremism in Ireland despite its limited electoral success. These characterizations often frame the party's opposition to mass immigration and advocacy for Irish sovereignty as symptomatic of nativist or conspiratorial tendencies, with The Irish Times highlighting its origins in Eurosceptic campaigns rebranded amid anti-immigration protests. Following the party's first local councilor win in June 2024, The Journal.ie portrayed this as evidence of far-right infiltration into politics, while noting the group's alliances with other fringe parties. Critiques from these sources frequently cite the party's promotion of election-related conspiracy theories, particularly after the November 2024 general election where Irish Freedom Party candidates, including councillor Glen Moore, shared unsubstantiated claims of vote rigging and irregularities without evidence from official tallies or courts. The Journal.ie attributed such rhetoric to far-right disappointment, linking it to similar patterns among other anti-establishment groups, and warned of its potential to erode trust in democratic institutions. In The Irish Times, reports on internal fractures and associations with international far-right figures, such as a 2022 link to a German judge involved in coup allegations, prompted party leader Hermann Kelly to reject "nazism and nuttery," though the outlet emphasized the connections as indicative of ideological proximity. Left-leaning international publications extend these domestic critiques by portraying the party as exploiting Irish patriotism for regressive ends. The Guardian grouped it with micro-parties like Ireland First and the National Party as part of a "far-right rabble" unlikely to overthrow democracy but capable of amplifying anti-migrant sentiment through protests. Similarly, Tribune magazine critiqued the party's gains in vote share during the 2024 election—despite no Dáil seats—as evidence of a far-right problem co-opting progressive nationalist traditions to push anti-immigration and anti-EU agendas. These outlets, often aligned with center-left perspectives, argue that such groups contribute to disinformation on issues like asylum and cultural preservation, though empirical data on their influence remains tied to low vote percentages, averaging under 1% in national contests. Such classifications from mainstream and left-leaning sources reflect a where policy positions on borders and are equated with , potentially overlooking distinctions between verifiable advocacy and unsubstantiated radicalism; for instance, noted the party's evolution from Irexit-focused origins without detailing causal links to , which official records show absent from its activities compared to unaffiliated rioters in 2023 events.

Party Responses and Broader Impact

The Irish Freedom Party has rebutted characterizations of the organization as "far-right" by lodging formal complaints with the Press Ombudsman against media outlets, including a 2021 case against The Journal for applying the label without sufficient substantiation in coverage of party activities. Party president Hermann Kelly argued in submissions that such descriptors misrepresented the group's policy positions on issues like immigration and EU withdrawal, emphasizing instead a platform rooted in national self-determination. In addressing specific media critiques, such as a December 2023 Irish Times article linking the party to unrelated controversies, representatives responded via letters to the editor, accepting accountability for their stated views while dismissing "guilt by association" tactics as inaccurate and evasive of substantive debate. The party has consistently framed such responses around defending democratic advocacy, portraying criticisms from mainstream sources as attempts to marginalize dissent on empirical issues like housing shortages exacerbated by population inflows. The party's emphasis on immigration restriction and repatriation policies has aligned with a broader escalation in public and electoral focus on these topics, contributing to volatility in support for centrist and left-leaning parties; for example, experienced a pronounced drop in backing from voters identifying immigration as a primary concern, with support falling sharply between March and June 2024 amid heightened scrutiny of asylum processing and resource allocation. Analysts have attributed a portion of this shift to the amplification of restrictionist arguments by smaller parties like the IFP, which, despite limited seat gains, have helped normalize demands for policy reversals in areas such as open-border pacts and non-EU inflows numbering over 100,000 net migrants in recent years. This discursive influence is evident in the fragmentation of anti-immigration voting blocs during the 2024 general election, where the IFP competed alongside entities like the National Party and Ireland First, collectively drawing votes that pressured mainstream platforms to incorporate tougher stances without yielding proportional representation. The party's activities have thus exerted indirect causal pressure on political realignments, fostering conditions where empirical data on integration costs—such as increased demands on Ireland's 1.1 million public housing waitlist—gains traction beyond niche advocacy.

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