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The violence outside Leinster House raged for just over a minute, two peaks.
They spit bile and hate each other, throwing themselves through the barriers erected to separate them. A firecracker was detonated, missiles were fired.
For a few seconds, it seemed that the gardaí between the two bands would be overwhelmed as each side swooped in to break the cord of separation.
This happened shortly after 1pm on Saturday in Kildare Street in Dublin. Two groups, claiming to represent extremely opposite positions on the political spectrum, debate issues at the doors of parliament in their own styles.
It may have gotten out of control, but then, in an instant, up to a dozen more Gardaí appeared, jumping off their bikes, knocking down Molesworth Street, stepping into the middle of the confrontation, their urgency heightened by the specter of colleagues in distress. of serious injuries.
Sirens blared through the frigid air, then boys and girls from the Public Order Unit entered to restore order and keep the peace.
The most notable feature of the outbreak was the professional and swift manner in which the gardaí handled it.
Social distancing was nowhere to be seen in the confrontation between the two sides, which together number about 200, albeit in two separate groups.
There were many masks and face coverings, but the impression persisted that some of the latter were designed to avoid identification rather than protect from the virus.
The confrontation was the latest in a series of clashes between what can broadly be described as right-wing and anti-right groups that have taken place during the pandemic. The clashes have included assaults with head injuries.
These kinds of confrontations, which sometimes descend into violence, are taking place all over the world right now.
Here the numbers on both sides are relatively small, but history on this island shows that a small group trying to disrupt can, under certain circumstances, get a purchase.
Different groups operate under different flags but all, across the spectrum, proudly fly the tricolor.
On Saturday, it was the National Party that gathered in Kildare Street for their protest. The meeting was announced on social media.
So it came as no surprise when, just before 1pm, a group of self-described anti-fascists marched down Molesworth Street with the intention of disrupting what they claim is a fascist rally.
Anti-fascists refer to an antifa, but what exactly they represent is unclear. Some of them have associations with so-called disgruntled Republican groups.
The physical characteristics of both sides are quite similar.
Lots of young men in dark clothes and face covers and baseball caps. Lots of tricolor flying. There are many older men who seem to have nothing better to do.
Some, but not many, women on both sides.
A handful of articles of clothing that refer to men and events from 1916. (Those poor signatories, ended up being claimed by all the leaders from Termonfeckin to Tehran).
The Gardaí received criticism for their approach to some of the previous meetings, but their luck in the middle of a pandemic is not a picnic. This time they were well prepared.
The premise of the National Party meeting was to denounce the handling of the pandemic, with special emphasis on conspiracy and control as they see it.
Party leader Justin Barrett is a veteran of various causes. He arrived dressed in a suit, shirt and tie, the only person dressed like that in the entire meeting.
The National Party positioned itself within a double line of barriers, along the wall of the Leinster House grounds. The antifa crowd stayed outside the barrier.
That was until the two of them tried to meet in the middle with serious intent.
Mr. Barrett and some of his colleagues did not participate in the violence at all.
After the outbreak, the two sides spat insults through the barriers.
“Nazi scum from our streets,” roared the antifa or whatever.
“Scum peeled off our streets,” roared the Nationalists.
A man from the National Party kept yelling, “Go home, you fat scum,” as if chronic obesity were a familiar characteristic of anti-fascists. After a while, he started chanting “McDonald’s … Burger King.” Every now and then someone looking for the National Party meeting would wander Molesworth Street, the opposition spotting him and chasing him.
The guards were busy with this carry-on. Many of these people apparently know each other by sight.
Finally, the thin blue line of guards pushed the antifas back to Molesworth Street, while within the barriers speeches began. For all this, huge resources of garda were deployed on Saturday afternoon.
Beyond Kildare Street, Dublin city center was eerily silent. It was as if much of the population were at home in front of the television for some massive national sporting event.
Except, of course, they weren’t.
Just as the pandemic has led to regular clashes of extremists, it has also prompted many others to try to stay safe.
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