The Dublin riots from a PR perspective at Piaras Kelly PR

The Dublin riots from a PR perspective

Published February 26th, 2006 in PR in Ireland

I was meant to go into Dublin City Centre to see a movie in the Jameson Dublin Film Festival today. By the sounds of things I was better off staying at home, having slept it out this morning and not getting caught up in the riots in Dublin city today.

Instead of being a landmark day for Ireland, where loyalists were allowed to march down our capital’s main street despite the dubious nature of the parade, 300 protesters shamed the nation. Images will now be beamed worldwide and people will wonder what on Earth we are up to in Ireland.

Around 300 protesters attacked the Gardai, the Irish police, in an attempt to stop the scheduled ‘Love Ulster’ parade going ahead. The parade was meant to commemorate those killed in the Troubles, but had been the cause of much criticism in the run-up to the event. The very nature of the route was contentious as it started at the Garden of Remberance, a tribute to those killed during Ireland’s struggle for independence, and would pass the GPO, the Dublin landmark where the Easter Rising took place.

Furthermore, those attempting to report on the carnage were attacked and even RTE’s Charlie Bird, Ireland’s figurehead journalist, was injured in the melee as he was singled out by the protesters. Numerous bloggers have also commented on the events during the day - (including Red Mum, Damien Mulley, United Irelander, Richard Waghorne and El Blogador) Of all the reports I have to single out the Dublin metroblog’s account as I thought it had to be an over-the-top account of the riots, but the RTE report seems to confirm everything.

From a PR perspective, the Dublin riots will obviously tarnish Ireland’s image, especially in the United Kingdom, where Ireland is hoping to attract more tourists from this year. The events seem to portray us as a nation that cannot forget its past, whereas in actual fact the average Irishman doesn’t even think twice about the North. Armchair republicans that were determined to cause trouble on the day have shamed the nation.

Those republican dissidents responsible for the carnage today have handed their loyalist opponents a PR coup and there will be serious questions raised about how the Gardai handled the riots, given that most commentators, including government spokespeople, are reporting that the carnage was planned. This a story that will drag out for some time to come.

In my opinion, the planned 90th commemoration of the Easter Rising should be cancelled. The nation should hang its head in shame at the actions of these thugs. If loyalists are unable to parade down O’Connell Street peacefully, then how can we possibly celebrate republicanism and not look like mindless, flag-waving thugs like the dissidents on the streets of Dublin today? The mixed messages that it would send out would be confusing to say the least.

* Images taken from RTE website

Technorati Tags: Dublin Riots, Piaras Kelly, PR, Love Ulster

9 Responses to “The Dublin riots from a PR perspective”

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1 MJ Feb 26th, 2006 at 1:44 am

Speaking as a Northerner…what the heck was going on?

I always felt some comfort south of the border knowing that my friends in the south only ever thought of the North when they wanted to laugh at my accent or something. I’m completely weirded out here.

On whose side were the protesters?
2 Piaras Feb 26th, 2006 at 3:03 am

They were so-called republicans, no party is going to accept responsibility for them though.

I’m completely with you though, it doesn’t make any sense. It’s completely unrepresentative of the vast majority of the public. I haven’t seen all the footage, but I’m told that at one point the Gardai go for a baton charge and there are innocent shoppers walking/running through it all.
3 Fionn The Beast Feb 26th, 2006 at 5:55 pm

While the Love Ulster march may have been the spark, there is a lot more to this than just sectarianism. Firstly this is indicative of what happens when FF make concessions to a UDA/UVF front organisation. Secondly it looks like the confrontation merely provided the spark - if you think about the levels of social and economic deprivation in Dublin in the midst of a supposed age of plenty thanks to the “Celtic Tiger” its a miracle they aren’t out rioting every other weekend.
4 Piaras Feb 26th, 2006 at 6:05 pm

Fionn I hope that comment was laced with sarcasm because it reeks of garbage.

Love Ulster was no spark, it was just mindless thuggery that spun out of control because the Gardai failed to control it.

Out rioting ever weekend? Paris this ain’t!
5 Daragh Mc Grath Feb 27th, 2006 at 5:57 pm

Cheers for the mention of my metblog article!
6 Daragh Feb 27th, 2006 at 6:39 pm

What did people expect, perhaps there were some republican influences among the rioters but the vast majority of them were local opportunist scumbags. The parade was gonna be on their dooorstep for feck sake and they hardly have jobs to go to -
7 Tom Collins Mar 10th, 2006 at 12:21 pm

Well finally the we can understand the fears held by the people of Northern Ireland!
8 Aidan Mar 11th, 2006 at 10:12 pm

The question is why was the march was let go ahead, even though the riots where wrong and we just done what the loyalists wanted. Now the loyalists have another way of claiming they are the victums in all of this, and wont admit that they where just as involed as republicans where in the troubles. The orange men who where marching are connected to the UVF. Whould the british goverment allow the IRA march through the streets of their capital??