A recent Dublin Inquirer article by Shamim Malekmian explores the growing backlash against NGOs in Ireland and across Europe, and how sustained political and online attacks are contributing to declining public trust in the charity and community sector. EDMO Ireland researcher Dr Shane Murphy spoke to Malekimian about her article, drawing on his research into disinformation and civil society.
The piece situates Irish debates within a wider European trend, where right-wing and conservative parties have increasingly questioned the legitimacy, funding, and influence of non-governmental organisations. While EU institutions have repeatedly confirmed that NGO funding is lawful and transparent, allegations, often amplified online, have fuelled suspicion toward civil society groups.
In Ireland, these narratives are echoed in political discourse and on social media platforms, where the term “NGO” is frequently used as a catch-all label for a wide range of organisations, from community sports clubs and religious charities to migrant-rights and human-rights groups. This lack of clarity has made it easier for misleading claims to spread.
Surveys commissioned by the Charities Regulator in 2023 and 2025 show that trust in the sector has fallen significantly in recent years. While governance failures in individual organisations have played a role, researchers and practitioners highlight how disinformation and hostile online rhetoric are having quieter but far-reaching effects. This includes volunteer disengagement, reduced advocacy, and increased pressure on already under-resourced organisations.
EDMO Ireland’s Dr Eileen Culloty and Dr Shane Murphy have been collaborating with The Wheel and Public Participation Networks to investigate the impact of disinformation on the day-to-day practices of charities and community organisations. The research aims to understand how online disinformation is contributing to “participatory backsliding” within our communities. Disinformation is often discussed in terms of high-level impacts on election outcomes or on specific instances of violence such as arson attacks. Other impacts may go under the radar, but still have a corrosive effect on democracy and society. The research report will be published in the coming months.
Read full Dublin Inquirer article here: https://www.dublininquirer.com/amid-attacks-from-the-right-on-ngos-trust-in-irelands-third-sector-has-been-declining/
