Irish flags have appeared on streets across Dublin in recent weeks - not for football, not for celebration, but as part of an anti-immigrant campaign. From Ballyfermot to Coolock, lines of tricolours have been strung up, leaving some locals feeling intimidated and unwelcome. In today’s podcast, Ciara Doherty asks what’s really going on. She speaks to Mick Clifford of the Irish Examiner about how far-right groups are trying to hijack Ireland’s most iconic national symbol, and why the tricolour has become the latest battleground in the culture wars. We also hear directly from residents in Ballyfermot about what the flags mean to them, and from the new Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, on what authorities can do about it. Is this simply patriotism, or is it something more sinister? Has Ireland learned nothing from England’s far-right “Raise the Colours” campaign? And, crucially, can the tricolour be reclaimed as a unifying symbol rather than a divisive one? Tell us what you think: email [email protected]. Mick Clifford is special correspondent for the Irish Examiner. He also presents the Mick Clifford Podcast. 

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