Hope and Courage Collective

Hope and Courage Collective (HCC) is an Irish civil-society organisation and nongovernmental organisation focused on monitoring, researching, and countering far-right activity and hate-based movements. The organisation originated in 2019 under the name Far Right Observatory, reflecting its initial emphasis on documenting the development and activities of far-right groups in Ireland. It subsequently adopted the Hope and Courage Collective name as its work broadened to include community support, public education, advocacy, and practical responses to hate, extremism, and misinformation. HCC works with community groups, trade unions, advocacy organisations, and academic institutions. Its activities include investigating the organisation and communication strategies of far-right movements, producing research and educational material, and helping communities respond to attempts at mobilisation. A recurring focus is the relationship between online platforms and political influence. HCC examines how social-media systems, recommendation algorithms, and networked communities can amplify racist, Islamophobic, anti-immigrant, and other hate-based content. The organisation publishes reports, toolkits, and case studies intended for use by civil-society organisations, local communities, researchers, and policymakers. Its 2023 report Greater than Fear presented case studies from Irish towns and offered strategic recommendations for resisting far-right mobilisation. This work places HCC between research organisation, advocacy group, and community-support initiative rather than a conventional commercial brand. HCC has also participated in formal democratic and regulatory processes. In 2023, it appealed to the Electoral Commission concerning the registration of the Ireland First political party. The intervention reflected its broader interest in how political organisations associated with far-right ideas enter formal electoral systems. Digital-platform governance became especially prominent in HCC's public advocacy during 2025. In January, the organisation criticised Meta's decision to remove fact-checking mechanisms, arguing that the change could increase the circulation of hate and misinformation. Executive Director Edel McGinley linked platform recommendation systems with pathways that can draw users toward increasingly extreme content. In April, HCC joined People Before Profit representatives at a press event calling for legislation to disable recommender algorithms on services such as YouTube and TikTok for users under 18. HCC representative Niamh McDonald cited the rapid growth and reach of an Irish Instagram account that disseminated racist, Islamophobic, and anti-immigrant material. HCC's positioning is therefore defined by prevention, evidence-based monitoring, and collective action. Rather than selling consumer products, it provides public-interest research, educational resources, strategic guidance, and advocacy concerning far-right mobilisation and online harms. Its work is primarily Ireland-focused, although the issues it addresses—digital radicalisation, platform accountability, misinformation, and hate-based political organising—have wider international relevance.

Hope and Courage Collective was established in Ireland in 2019 as the Far Right Observatory. Its original mandate centred on observing and documenting far-right activity, but the organisation's work developed into a broader programme addressing hate-based movements, misinformation, community safety, and the role of digital platforms in political mobilisation. HCC operates through cooperation with community groups, trade unions, advocacy organisations, and academic institutions. This collaborative model supports both research and practical intervention. The organisation studies the activities, messaging, and strategies of far-right groups in Ireland, while also producing material intended to help communities recognise and respond to attempts at mobilisation. Its publications include reports, toolkits, and case studies rather than commercial products. The organisation has given particular attention to social-media platforms and algorithmic recommendation systems. Its research and advocacy examine how online environments can amplify racist, Islamophobic, anti-immigrant, and other hate-based content, and how platform design can contribute to users encountering increasingly extreme material. This technology-focused work has become an important part of HCC's public identity. In 2023, HCC published Greater than Fear. The report drew on examples from Irish towns and set out recommendations for countering far-right mobilisation. During the same year, HCC became involved in a formal process regarding the registration of the Ireland First political party by appealing to the Electoral Commission. This illustrated the organisation's willingness to engage with electoral and institutional questions as well as community-level concerns. In January 2025, Executive Director Edel McGinley criticised Meta's decision to remove fact-checking mechanisms. HCC argued that reducing such safeguards could make it easier for hate and misinformation to spread. McGinley also described recommendation systems as pathways that may lead users toward increasingly hateful material. In April 2025, HCC joined People Before Profit representatives at a press event supporting legislation to disable recommender algorithms on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok for people under 18. HCC representative Niamh McDonald used the event to describe the rapid audience growth and high daily reach of an Irish Instagram account sharing racist, Islamophobic, and anti-immigrant content. The available record presents HCC as an active Irish advocacy and research organisation. Its principal contribution is the combination of monitoring, public-interest research, community resources, and policy advocacy aimed at strengthening resistance to far-right organising and online hate.

• 2025

  Criticism of Meta fact-checking changes

  [1]Hope and Courage Collectiveen.wikipedia.org

  HCC publicly opposed Meta's decision to remove fact-checking mechanisms, linking the change to increased risks from hate and misinformation.

• 2025

  Advocacy on recommender algorithms and minors

  [1]Hope and Courage Collectiveen.wikipedia.org

  HCC joined a press event calling for legislation to disable recommender algorithms for users under 18 on major video and social-media platforms.

• 2023

  Greater than Fear published

  [1]Hope and Courage Collectiveen.wikipedia.org

  HCC released a report containing Irish community case studies and recommendations for countering far-right mobilisation.

• 2023

  Electoral Commission appeal

  [1]Hope and Courage Collectiveen.wikipedia.org

  HCC appealed to the Electoral Commission concerning the registration of the Ireland First political party.

• 2019

  Founded as the Far Right Observatory

  [1]Hope and Courage Collectiveen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was established in Ireland under the Far Right Observatory name to monitor and research far-right activity.

An Irish public-interest research and advocacy organisation positioned around community resilience, monitoring of far-right activity, opposition to hate-based mobilisation, and accountability for online platforms.

• Research report · 2023

  Greater than Fear

  A 2023 HCC report focused on far-right mobilisation in Irish towns. It uses local case studies and presents strategic recommendations intended to help communities and civil-society organisations understand, prevent, and respond to far-right organising.

• Educational and advocacy resources

  Community toolkits and case studies

  HCC produces practical resources for communities and organisations dealing with hate, extremism, misinformation, and far-right mobilisation. These materials translate research into guidance and examples that can support local organising and institutional responses.

• 2025Recommender Algorithm Restrictions for Minors

  Ireland

  HCC participated in a press event with People Before Profit representatives advocating legislation to disable recommender algorithms on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok for users under 18.

  Source

• 2025

  Advocacy against removal of platform fact-checkingStrategy

  Background

  HCC assessed Meta's removal of fact-checking mechanisms as a potential contributor to the spread of hate and misinformation.

  Action taken

  The organisation publicly criticised the decision and called attention to the risks posed by algorithmic amplification.

  Source

• 2023

  Appeal concerning Ireland First registrationOther

  Background

  HCC engaged with the formal registration process for political parties by challenging the registration of Ireland First before the Electoral Commission.

  Action taken

  The organisation submitted an appeal to the Electoral Commission.

  Source

1. 1Hope and Courage Collectiveen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hope and Courage Collective official websitehopeandcourage.ie