The Herbert Park Hotel in Dublin's Ballsbridge neighborhood canceled a group reservation for 70 rooms booked for delegates attending an international conference on combating antisemitism in the Irish capital, according to a senior representative of Ireland's Jewish community.
The incident was disclosed by Maurice Cohen, chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, during a reception at the Irish Foreign Ministry marking the opening of the conference.
The Herbert Park Hotel in Dublin
(Photo: Luciann.photography / Shutterstock)
According to Cohen, the hotel initially accepted the reservation for delegates from the European Union's 27 member states but withdrew it after staff learned the purpose of their visit. Hotel management also reportedly asked whether the conference had any connection to the Israel Defense Forces, despite the gathering being an entirely civilian and diplomatic event with no military involvement.
The delegates traveled to Ireland for the 15th meeting of the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA), a network supported by the World Jewish Congress and the European Commission.
The conference was held during Ireland's presidency of the European Union, with its location in Dublin intended to underscore the country's commitment to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
The reported cancellation came against a backdrop of growing concerns within Ireland's Jewish community over antisemitic incidents and anti-Israel sentiment.
Recent controversies have included the cancellation of a theatrical production dealing with the October 7 Hamas attack and Irish public broadcaster RTÉ's decision not to send a representative to the Eurovision Song Contest and to scale back coverage of the Irish national soccer team's match against Israel.
Irish players also faced criticism for their conduct toward the Israeli team, including their response to Israel's national anthem and their refusal to shake hands with Israeli players.
Jewish community representatives have additionally warned of increasing hostility and violence, including reports of Jews being assaulted or spat at in public places and on buses across the country.
The hotel incident has raised further concerns about the environment facing Jewish organizations and international efforts to combat antisemitism in Ireland.
A manager at the Herbert Park Hotel declined to comment on the reports Tuesday evening. A request for comment was also forwarded to the hotel's corporate management offices.