The Irish Freedom Party or the Irexit Freedom To Prosper Party, sometimes referred to as IFP or IFTPP, is a minor far-right, hard Eurosceptic political party in Ireland, launched on 8 September 2018. It advocates Irish withdrawal from the European Union.
The party president is Hermann Kelly, former Director of Communications for Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD). The party chairperson is architect Michael Leahy. The party has no representation at local or national level.
History
Formation
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. Approximately 600 people attended.
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, and Professor Ray Kinsella, a University College Dublin economist. Approximately 400 people attended the event.
Following its launch, the party held several regional public meetings, including one in Raheen, County Limerick during which broadcaster George Hook spoke about the "politically correct" Irish media. 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.”
In late March 2019, the organisation launched a nationwide billboard campaign ahead of the European elections, reportedly funded by members of the party. 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.
Public demonstrations
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. Garda estimated attendance at 250.
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. Up to 2,000 were estimated to have marched in the protest. A similar smaller protest in Monaghan Ireland was said to have been "endorsed by Irish Freedom Party Leaders".
In late 2019, the Irish Freedom Party, along with Renua Ireland 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. 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.
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.