By December 1884, attempts were being made to form an Irish branch of the SDF by a local socialist club in Dublin, which on 18 January 1885 established the Dublin Democratic Association (DDA) "to promote and defend the rights of labour, and to restore the land to the people," although this did not affiliate with the SDF due to worries that it would alienate Catholic members of the Irish National League. Only about one quarter of the DDA's members were actually socialists, the rest being a mix of various different radical tendencies, the largest of which were nationalist Land Leaguers. Largely the organisation focused on promoting "the advancement of democratic principles", but after a foreign Marxist was invited to speak at the club, nationalist members protested, causing a split in the DDA that resulted in its disbandment by May 1885.
By December 1884, efforts were underway to establish an Irish branch of the SDF by a local socialist club in Dublin, which on January 18, 1885 founded the Dublin Democratic Association (DDA) "to advance and protect labor rights, and to reclaim land for the people," although this did not join the SDF due to fears it would offend Catholic members of the Irish National League. Only about one quarter of DDA members were true socialists; the rest consisted of various radical tendencies, with the largest being nationalist Land Leaguers. The organization primarily promoted "democratic principles," but after a foreign Marxist was invited to speak at the club, nationalist members protested, leading to a split in the DDA that caused its dissolution by May 1885.