Communities across Ireland take a stand against racism on Wear Red Day, as part of the Immigrant Council of Ireland’s Show Racism the Red Card programme.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination the Immigrant Council of Ireland is asking everyone to wear red and help combat racism in Ireland
20.03.2026 – The Immigrant Council of Ireland’s anti-racism initiative Wear Red Day took place today Friday 20th March, with the organisation calling on schools, businesses, sports clubs and community groups across Ireland to wear red and raise vital funds to help fight against racism in Ireland.
All the funds raised through Wear Red Day will be used by the Immigrant Council to continue their work on tackling racism in Ireland. Over 125,000 people took part in the initiative last year.
To mark the day, the Immigrant Council of Ireland held a launch event in Scoil Choilm Community National School, Dublin 15, with special guests Councillor Ted Leddy (Fine Gael) and Councillor John Walsh (Labour Party), as well as Show Racism the Red Card ambassador and Dublin Camogie player Aisling Maher.
This year’s Wear Red Day comes amidst a rise in racism and hate across the country, highlighting the growing need to show solidarity for victims of racist attacks and take a proactive stance against racism. For young people, Wear Red Day is a chance to celebrate diversity and understand the impact of racism in schools, especially following a recent report which showed that 1 in 4 secondary school students from minority backgrounds have experienced racism.
Commenting on the day, Teresa Buczkowska, CEO at the Immigrant Council of Ireland said: “Wear Red Day is an important opportunity for communities across Ireland to show a united front against racism. It sends out a strong message that racism is not acceptable in any form or in any place. As a nationwide event, Wear Red Day reminds us of our shared responsibility to ensure that we fight racism all year round.
The growth of the Show Racism the Red Card programme shows that sadly anti-racism work is needed more than ever. This is why we are grateful for the support of Intersport Elverys, Dublin Airport, our campaign ambassadors and others in amplifying today’s message.”
Intersport Elverys is supporting the Wear Red Day schools competition for the second year in a row, giving each school that fundraises on the day a chance to win up to €3,000 in sports equipment. This year Dublin Airport have also supported the event[AR1] [VA2] [AR3] with staff wearing red to raise awareness, while buildings across the airport were lit up in red overnight. Elsewhere, sports clubs, including Irish Rugby and the Football Association of Ireland, county councils and businesses have shown support by wearing red and posting on social media.
The Immigrant Council is encouraging participants to share their Wear Red Day activities on social media using the hashtag #WRD26 and to donate online.
Wear Red Day is part of the Show Racism the Red Card anti-racism programme, which is in its 5th year of being run in Ireland by the Immigrant Council. The programme provides educational resources, workshops, training and awareness-raising activities for primary and secondary schools, youth groups, workplaces and sporting stakeholders nationwide.
Further information on Wear Red Day is available at https://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/show-racism-red-card/wear-red-day.
ENDS
Contact: Valeria Aquino, Immigrant Council: communications@immigrantcouncil.ie
Images:
Note to photo editors: photographer Marc O’Sullivan has been commissioned to cover this event, and will be issuing photographs to all media outlets – for reproduction free of charge – on Friday (20.03.26).
Notes to the Editor
- Teresa Buczkowska, CEO, Immigrant Council of Ireland; Valéria Aquino, Integration Manager at the Immigrant Council of Ireland; and Marton Bisztrai, Show Racism the Red Card Coordinator at the Immigrant Council of Ireland are available for interview.
About the Immigrant Council
The Immigrant Council of Ireland is the leading national human rights organisation working to defend migrant rights in Ireland. It provides free immigration advice and legal support through its helpline and law centre, as well as campaigning for immigration reform. The Council also provides support to victims of racism and human trafficking and provides opportunities for migrants to connect with each other and their communities. Visit www.immigrantcouncil.ie for more information.
Follow the Council on social media:
- LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/company/immigrantcouncil
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immigrantcouncilofireland/?hl=en
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theredcardireland
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmigrantCouncil