New Delhi: A taxi driver, an IT professional, and even a six-year-old child have been victims of alleged racially motivated attacks against the Indian community in Ireland in the last month.
Last Sunday, an Indian male was allegedly attacked by three persons and required eight stitches. Currently, he is planning to leave the country.
At least 13 attacks have been reported to the Indian Embassy in Dublin since the first widely covered attack on an Indian by nearly 30 people on 19 July, embassy sources have informed ThePrint.
The Indian community in Ireland has grown to roughly 100,000 in recent years, with Indians working, especially, in the healthcare, hospitality, and information & technology sectors, having relocated to the Western European nation.
Ireland is also home to a large number of students from India.
The growth of migrant communities, particularly the Indian community, has been linked to the housing crisis in the country.
However, Prashant Shukla, the co-chair of the Ireland India Council (IIC) labelled the claims of linking the Indian community to the housing crisis as “unfounded” and could “provoke” hostility in other parts of the country.
Earlier this year, Irish property website Daft.ie highlighted that rental prices across Ireland increased by 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025—the joint second-largest quarterly increase since at least 2006.
Growing year-on-year by 8.2 percent, Dublin’s average rental prices now touch EUR 2,461. It is particularly true for West County.
A Daft.ie report notes that a general uptick in housing prices has spiked the rental inflation to 7.3 percent in Ireland. According to The Irish Times, since the COVID-19 pandemic, rents have increased by 48 percent.
In this environment, the Indian community has faced several attacks, leading to condemnation across the political system in Ireland, especially as the country has, for long, been welcoming of immigrants. On 1 August, the Indian Embassy in Dublin put out an advisory, urging Indians to “take reasonable precautions” for their “personal safety.”
#MEAIndia @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/RBmnRd4ZEs
— India in Ireland (Embassy of India, Dublin) (@IndiainIreland) August 1, 2025
Irish President Michael D. Higgins condemned the attacks Tuesday, calling them “despicable” and a “stark contradiction to the values” that the country holds dear.
“That any person in Ireland, particularly any young person, should be drawn into such behaviour through manipulation or provocation is to be unequivocally condemned. Whether such provocation stems from ignorance or malice, it is essential to acknowledge the harm it is causing. Such acts diminish all of us and obscure the immeasurable benefits the people of India have brought to the life of this country,” said Higgins.
Last week, a six-year-old girl of Indian-origin was allegedly racially targeted by a group of children outside her home in Waterford, according to media reports. The group of children allegedly hit the girl in the face. The group consisted of several boys and at least one young girl, according to reports.
In recent years, there has been a growth of the Far-Right parties in Ireland, focussed on limiting migration. In last year’s November general elections, no Far-Right candidate was elected to the Daíl (Lower House in Ireland). However, local elections in June 2024 saw at least five Far-Right candidates elected to local councils, including three Independents and one candidate each from the Irish Freedom Party and the National Party. This is the first time that two registered Far-Right parties hold office in Ireland, according to reports.
Fear & anger within Indian community
The attacks have led the Ireland India Council (IIC) to postpone the celebrations for India Day, which coincides with the country’s 15 August Independence Day.
IIC co-chair Prashant Shukla, in a statement to ThePrint, said that the celebrations were postponed to prevent further hate crimes against the Indian community in Ireland.
“India Day is a cherished occasion, celebrating the rich culture, friendship, and shared democratic values between Ireland and India. However, to proceed with a celebration at Farmleigh House and Estate while our community is enduring such distress would be deeply inappropriate. It would be emotionally challenging for many of our performers to sing, dance, and celebrate during a period of such profound suffering,” said Shukla.
He added: “The IIC’s decision is therefore a proactive measure to prevent the further escalation of hate crimes and to focus on fostering a safe, harmonious, and inclusive environment for all.”
The IIC has been hosting India Day since 2015. The Indian mission in Dublin, on the other hand, is preparing for the 15 August Independence Day celebrations, which will include a cultural programme and a flag hoisting on its premises.
According to diplomatic sources, the Indian Ambassador to Ireland, Akhilesh Mishra, has been “maintaining close contact” with the Director General of the Asia Pacific Unit of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), as well as Irish Ambassador to India Kevin Kelly, to “monitor the developments and local responses”.
“The embassy is also in direct communication with the Indian diaspora in Ireland. An institutionalised mechanism is in place for real-time contact and sharing of regular updates between the Embassy and the Indian diaspora across Ireland,” added the source.
While the government and members of the Irish public have come out in support of the Indians, the source highlighted serious “concern, fear, and anger” existing within the community. The authorities, he said, need to take “concrete action” against the perpetrators while enhancing security measures for the safety of people in public spaces.
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The Irish response
The first reported incident took place 19 July, when a person of Indian-origin was allegedly assaulted and partially stripped in Tallaght, Dublin, according to videos circulating on social media.
Mishra, the Indian Ambassador to Ireland, met with the members of the Indian community association 23 July.
On Monday, Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, met with representatives from the Indian community and condemned the attacks against the people of Indian-origin in Ireland.
“Today, I met representatives of Ireland’s [Indian] community. I completely condemn the despicable acts of violence and racism that we have seen against some members of the [Indian] community in recent weeks,” Harris said in a statement on X.
Shukla, who, along with the Irish Tánaiste, led the IIC delegation to the meeting, tells ThePrint that the Irish government has accepted all six demands put forth by the representatives at the meeting.
The demands included recognising the assaults as a hate crime, creating an inter-ministerial task force on youth violence, swift prosecution of the offenders, legislative reforms to hold parents accountable for hate crimes by minors in their care, immediate outreach to the affected communities, enhanced community policing, and security provisions in affected areas to restore public confidence.
The government, at all levels, have taken cognisance of the crimes, with Indian representatives set to meet with the Minister of Justice soon, and to aid in the creation of a national integration policy.
The Irish public has also condemned the attacks. Irish cricketer Kevin O’Brien, in a statement, said he was “deeply saddened” by the “recent racist and hateful acts against Indians in Ireland.”
“India and its people hold a very special place in my heart and in the hearts of my fellow Irish teammates. We have always loved playing in India. The warmth and love we have received there have always made us feel at home…I want to reiterate to the Indian community that Ireland is your home too,” added O’Brien.
In recent years, Ireland has become a major destination for Indian students and skilled labour, especially in the healthcare and information technology sectors. Ireland now houses 1,00,000 Indians or Indian-origin people, who make up one percent of the Irish population.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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