In the absence of an official government mechanism, the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland (JRCI) has published the first-ever report documenting antisemitic incidents experienced by members of the Irish Jewish community.
Between 17 July 2025 and 9 January 2026, 143 incidents were reported through a new community reporting mechanism. In a community of approximately 2,200 people, that number is significant.
This report does not measure national prevalence or present verified crime statistics. It exists because Ireland does not have a comprehensive, trusted national system for recording antisemitism. Instead, it provides a baseline of lived experience – documented systematically for the first time.
Antisemitism in Everyday Settings
The incidents were not confined to protests or extremist spaces. They occurred in public spaces, schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, retail venues, public transport, and through direct digital communications.
Seventy-five percent of incidents occurred in physical settings. A quarter involved direct digital targeting, including hate emails and private messages. Nearly half of those digital cases included threats or intimidation.
The most frequently reported harms were verbal abuse, vandalism, threats, exclusion or discrimination, Holocaust distortion, and antisemitic conspiracy narratives.
These incidents were identity-based, not expressions of policy disagreement.
Identity as a Trigger
A recurring pattern was escalation triggered solely by identity cues: speaking Hebrew, wearing a Jewish symbol, having an Israeli accent, or answering “Where are you from?”
In 30% of cases, ordinary interactions shifted into hostility once Jewish or Israeli identity became visible.
When identity alone triggers abuse, the issue is not geopolitics. It is antisemitism.
Under-Reporting and Institutional Gaps
Only 24% of incidents were reported to an authority. Just 2% of reporters requested follow-up support.
International research shows antisemitism is widely underreported, and similar dynamics are evident in Ireland. Fear of repercussions, low confidence in outcomes, and experiences of minimisation affect reporting behaviour.
Some submissions describe institutional responses that compounded the original harm, including reluctance to explicitly recognise antisemitism.
The 143 incidents recorded here should therefore be understood as a floor, not a ceiling.
A Policy Gap
Ireland has endorsed the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism but has not adopted a standalone national strategy to combat antisemitism. While referenced in broader anti-racism frameworks, there is no dedicated monitoring or implementation structure addressing its specific characteristics.
Recognition must now translate into action.
This report documents antisemitism occurring in daily life and highlights the absence of a structured national response.
It stands as both evidence and a warning.
