Canada Updates Ireland Travel Advisory After Dublin Riots

A week since violent riots erupted in Dublin, Ireland following a knife attack in the city, several countries have issued travel advisories and updates for citizens heading to the Emerald Isle. One of those countries was Canada, which issued an alert this week. 

The riots took place on Nov. 23 after five people, including three young children, were injured in a knife attack in the city. Riot police clashed with protestors as buses and police cars were burned and shops looted around the city. 

More than 30 people have been arrested, and calm has reportedly been restored to the city, though police remain on alert.

Canada is not recommending avoiding travel to Ireland but did issue an updated advisory to its citizens after last week’s riots. The advisory warns travelers to avoid any protests in Dublin and to follow the advice of local authorities. 

“Violent demonstrations occurred in Dublin in November 2023 and led to acts of vandalism, arson, and clashes between demonstrators and police,” the advisory said. 

Canada is alerting its citizens who are traveling into Dublin to avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place, follow the instructions of local authorities, and monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations.

Canada is one of several countries to issue some kind of advisory, or advisory update, for citizens traveling into Ireland. The U.K. government and Australia also issued their own advisories, both zeroing in on avoiding demonstrations or protests if traveling into Dublin. 

The U.S. State Department, for its part, did not issue an advisory or warning after last week’s riots. However, the U.S. Embassy in Dublin did issue an alert, giving American citizens similar advice to what Canada said—monitor local media, avoid crowds, avoid demonstrations, and be aware of your surroundings.