Anti-lockdown protesters in Ireland are planning so-called Easter Rising demonstrations across the country on April 4 to mark the anniversary of the 1916 armed struggle against British rule. Activists in Telegram groups are sharing posters bearing slogans that equate the anti-lockdown movement with the battle for an independent Ireland. 

The anniversary of the 1916 rebellion is a significant influencer, according to experts. “The narrative is being used to spur on the movement,” said Aoife Gallagher, a Dublin-based researcher at UK think tank the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. “Although the vast majority of the anti-lockdown movement is peaceful, the possibility of violence at these protests cannot be ruled out.” 

Why it matters 

The current atmosphere in Ireland is one of “extreme fatigue,” said Gallagher. The country has been locked down since Christmas Eve and, though the government is considering steps to lift restrictions, a roadmap for the country’s reopening has yet to be announced.