Dublin hotel is accused of antisemitism after cancelling 70 rooms booked for EU anti-antisemitism conference

The Herbert Park Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin, cancelled a block booking of 70 rooms for delegates attending the 15th SECCA conference — an EU-backed international gathering of envoys dedicated to combating antisemitism — after management asked whether the event had any connection to the Israeli Defence Forces. Maurice Cohen, chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, revealed the incident at Ireland's Foreign Ministry and called it an act of antisemitism, saying the IDF question left him stunned. The conference, which was part of Ireland's rotating EU presidency, went ahead at a different Dublin venue. The Herbert Park Hotel has refused to comment.

'How quickly does the word "Jewish" change a conversation?' Cohen said, describing the moment the hotel manager's manner visibly changed.

The European Jewish Congress branded the cancellation 'deeply disturbing', saying it reflected 'precisely the kind of prejudice' the conference was created to confront.

Former Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter called it 'a vile illustration of the issue to be addressed', as Ireland's 2,200-strong Jewish community recorded 143 antisemitic incidents between July 2025 and January 2026.