Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy has slammed the anti refugee protests in her native Ballymun and claimed they were organised by the "far right".
Scenes of the protests were shared widely on social media over the weekend. Chants of "get them out" were heard outside of an accommodation centre on Saturday night.
The protestors also held banners that were critical of the Government's immigration policies. There was wide criticism of the protest on social media with Dublin GAA legend Philly McMahon saying it was "disappointing".
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The protest follows similar demonstrations in East Wall and Drimnagh in opposition to a former ESB office block and a school respectively being used to house refugees.
Lord Mayor Conroy, who grew up in Ballymun, said many community groups in the area are "really upset and distraught" about the scenes. She said: "It is really embarrassing, it is upsetting and it is not what we are about in Ballymun.
"I've always worked in the community. I still continue to do that and all the groups that have contacted me are really upset and distraught about the scenes that they have seen taking place over the weekend.
She added: "There were a lot of people who weren't from Ballymun. There were people who are locals there, definitely, but an awful lot of them are far right protestors."
Cllr Conroy, who represents Ballymun, said there were locals at the demonstration but they were the "minority" and added that a leaflet drop of the area was carried out by people not from the area.
She said: "They unfurled their protest banners which were quite visual and they are also going around doing a leaflet drop so they are not locals that are behind the scenes here at this particular protest.
"The majority of people who have contacted me are all from community groups, schools and even Philly McMahon - they are all very upset because this doesn't represent what we do in Ballymun and what we are about in Ballymun.
"It is certainly a minority that are out there protesting against vulnerable people who have no where to go. We are made of people from all over the place."
Former Dublin footballer Philly McMahon slammed the protest on a social media post. He wrote on twitter: "Disappointing to see some of the scenes in Ballymun over the last two days.
"From a community that is judged constantly to now judging asylum seekers. 'Criminals, not vetted, it will impact homelessness, all men'.
"It has evidence of far rights claws in it. Some forget who we are."
The Lord Mayor is meeting with community activists today to look at the best response from the community to "show people we are about bring people in and welcoming people in". Cllr Conroy said they want to "show the real side of Ballymun".
The Lord Mayor added that she was "concerned" that the anti asylum seeker protests are spreading across Dublin. She said: "I am concerned that the minority are getting a louder say on the situation and not the majority who are always there for the most vulnerable, worked on the ground and have always done great work in their communities."
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