Polish far-right political meeting is cancelled in Cork

A public meeting of the far-right nationalist Polish political group Ruch Narowody (which translates as The National Movement) has been cancelled in Cork.

Originally organised by the Cork branch of the organisation, the meeting was to take place next Sunday in The Ambassador Hotel.

Marian Kowalski, the Presidential candidate for Ruch Narodowy was scheduled to debate at the event with rival right-wing Polish Presidential candidate Grzegorz Braun.

Kowalski has courted controversy with claims that people of different ethnic backgrounds should be separated.

Left wing groups threatened to protest at the meeting which has now been cancelled but Kowalski is still scheduled to speak in Dublin.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Jonathan O’Brien has welcomed the decision to cancel the meeting.

"Yesterday, I contacted the management of The Ambassador Hotel to express my deep concern about right-wing, fascist political organisation Ruch Narowody holding a public meeting in their premises this coming Sunday," said O’Brien.

“I am happy to say that the management have since replied to me to say that they have cancelled the event and I commend the management of the hotel for making this decision

“I am opposed to any group which promotes racist and homophobic ideology. Ruch Narodowy is unashamedly so.

“It is the responsibility of everybody in society to challenge fascism and any channel used by such organisations to advance their racist ideology,” said O'Brien.