McGregor's immigration claims about Ireland are incorrect

Conor McGregor recently claimed that some rural towns in Ireland are being "overrun" by immigrants. He made this statement during a visit to former US President Donald Trump. However, data from the Central Statistics Office shows that these claims are not true. The most recent census, conducted in April 2022, indicates a rise in the number of non-Irish citizens living in Ireland, largely due to an influx of Ukrainians and other asylum seekers. Nonetheless, Irish residents still make up the majority of the population. According to 2022 census data released in October 2023, nearly 632,000 non-Irish citizens lived in Ireland, which is about 12 percent of the total population. This is a small increase from 11 percent in the 2016 census. The town of Ballyhaunis in County Mayo had the highest percentage of non-Irish residents at 37 percent, followed by Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown in Longford at 33 and 31 percent, respectively. Brian Killoran, CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, referred to migration to Ireland as a "massive success story." He noted that many locals welcome newcomers and that there is significant community involvement in these efforts. While he recognized some strain on the international protection system, he emphasized the positive engagement at the community level.