Sinn Féin Councillor Clashes with Far-Right Group in Cavan
Stand-off in Drumalee: Sinn Féin Councillor Confronts Group in Cavan Pub
DRUMALEE, CAVAN — Tensions boiled over in County Cavan last night as Sinn Féin Councillor Stiofán Conaty led a direct confrontation against a private gathering at The Orchard Bar, claiming the event was a meeting of "Zionist, neo-Nazi" extremists.
The Bailieborough-Cootehill representative took to social media shortly after the incident to declare that fascism would find "no foothold" in the county. Conaty reported that he and party activists "tackled head on" a group he alleged had links to Belarusian far-right movements and other extremist ideologies.
"No fascism allowed i gContae an Chabháin," Conaty stated, utilizing both Irish and English to underscore his message. "Is fuath linn na Faisistí (We hate the Fascists). Sinn Féin tackled them head on. Saoirse don Phailistín."
The incident comes at a sensitive time for the region, as Sinn Féin localizes its efforts to combat the rise of anti-immigrant and far-right sentiment across the border counties. While the nature of the private event at The Orchard Bar remains under scrutiny, the verbal clash has already ignited a fierce debate online regarding the role of elected officials in direct-action protests.
Local residents reported a heavy verbal exchange outside the premises, with Conaty framing the intervention as a necessary defense of community values. Neither the bar management nor the attendees of the private event have yet issued a formal statement regarding the specific allegations of neo-Nazi affiliations.
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