Clare LGBT group on the far right: ‘If they pick on one minority, they will pick on another. We would be in the firing line’

This is more than a social gathering. This is, perhaps, the only time this week that a noticeably queer group of people will be seen gathered in any public space in Co Clare. Quare Clare was founded three years ago, when a person seeking asylum in Ireland because of their gender reported being unsure if they were safe in Co Clare as there was no LGBTQ+ visibility in the county.

The group has made significant strides in a short time and now boasts some 200 members from Clare, south Galway and Limerick. Not surprisingly, the rise of far-right parties in recent years is a concern for the group ahead of the general election . “When it comes to the far right, anybody from the LGBT community is going to be concerned.

We’re watching the news, we see what is happening in places like Coolock [anti-immigration protests], where people are ganging up on minorities,” says Maurice O’Sullivan from Corofin. “We have seen similar things happening here in Clare where sites have been identified for direct provision. Locals have been coming out in force to protest.

“Everyone knows what this leads to, if they pick on one minority, as soon as they are out of fashion, they will pick on another. We would be in the firing line for that. We all know what that feels like.

“We are worried about groups of young males in particular. White Irish males. The far right recruit that demographic; they are easy targets.

We know where this goes and that is why we are concerned.” O’Sullivan, who .