A new survey has revealed serious gaps in Holocaust knowledge in Ireland, with around half of adults unaware that six million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. The findings have raised concern among Jewish organisations, who warn that historical ignorance may be contributing to rising antisemitism, reports The Jerusalem Post.
The survey, conducted by the Global Strategy Group and commissioned by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, questioned 1,000 Irish adults online. Participants were selected to reflect Ireland’s population based on the most recent census data. The poll found that 50% of respondents did not know the correct number of Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
The results were particularly troubling among younger adults. One in five respondents aged 18 to 29 said they believed the scale of the Holocaust had been “greatly exaggerated,” while nearly one in ten in this age group described the Holocaust as a “myth.” Across all age groups, 12% of respondents said they believed they had never heard of the Holocaust at all, rising to 15% among young adults.
Overall, 8% of Irish adults surveyed said they believed the Holocaust was a myth, and 18% believed the number of victims had been exaggerated. Despite these findings, there was broad agreement on the importance of education: more than 90% of respondents said it was important to continue teaching about the Holocaust, and 88% supported teaching it in schools.
The survey comes amid growing concern about antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in Ireland. Jewish leaders have warned that limited Holocaust education can weaken public understanding of antisemitism and make Jewish communities more vulnerable to hostility.
Relations between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated in recent years. The Israeli embassy in Dublin closed in late 2024, accusing the Irish government of pursuing extreme anti-Israel policies and tolerating antisemitic rhetoric. In May 2025, Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism described Ireland as one of the most hostile countries towards Israel and the Jewish community.
Separate findings shared with The Spectator indicate that antisemitic incidents in Ireland have risen sharply. According to preliminary data compiled for the Irish government, the Jewish community — numbering just over 2,300 people — experienced 128 antisemitic incidents over a six-month period in 2025. This represents roughly one incident for every 20 Jewish residents, a rate significantly higher than that recorded in the United Kingdom during a comparable period.
The survey was conducted between 15 October and 6 November 2025 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%. Researchers said the findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen Holocaust education as a tool for combating antisemitism and historical distortion.
photo credit: Clodagh Kilcoyn/Reuters
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