An Irish barman who went viral online after he was filmed ejecting far-right activists from a pub in Birmingham has revealed he kicked the racists out for being ‘rude’ – not for political reasons.

Drogheda man Danny was widely praised by anti-racism groups and commentators after video footage emerged of him removing activists wearing ‘Raise the Colours’ T-shirts.

Raise the Colours began as a campaign movement in the UK consisting of groups that display the Union Flag and the Saint George’s Cross in public places – but it has also become associated with anti-migrant extremism.

The video footage in the Queen’s Arms pub in Birmingham – where Danny works – was recorded by Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge after 20,000 soccer fans were celebrating to welcome home the victorious Aston Villa team after winning the UEFA Europa League final last month.

It shows Danny – whose family moved from Nigeria to Ireland 25 years ago when he was a baby – bravely standing up to Bridge and some of his supporters after they were abusive.

However, the video was posted online with the caption: ‘Absolute Madness!!! Kicked out the pub for wearing Raise the Colours T-shirt’ and attempted to give the impression the far-right activists were the victims of discrimination.

But that move backfired, with thousands of viewers hailing Danny’s actions and one commenting, ‘Did he think showing the video from his [Bridge’s] POV was going to make it look better!?’ Hundreds more pledged to visit the pub to ‘buy that LEGEND a pint’.

Speaking for the first time publicly about the incident, Danny – who didn’t want his surname used – insisted his actions were not politically motivated.

He told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘We’ve got a customers’ only situation with the bathrooms, and when they came in, obviously I had seen the [Raise the Colours] T-shirt, and whether I agree with it or not, I have the right to refuse if anything goes wrong.

‘One of them started, “where are your jacks mate?” He was holding a child’s hand, who I say was about eight or nine, and I said, “oh, they’re upstairs but you need to buy a drink today.” 

'He said, “oh yeah, I’m going to buy a f****** drink mate”, and I said: “No you’re not – you swore at me that’s just not happening.”

‘He must have whispered to his friend, and then I heard “black” something… there was a fella in a white Aston Villa top, who is not in the video, and he goes: “He has the right to refuse anyone he wants”.

'And then he went right up to that man’s face – I mean his nose and ear – and, excuse my language, said: “oh you fat f****** c***". 

'When he said that I was like: “Get the f*** out of my bar.”’

The Irish citizen said it was after these off-camera exchanges – which were not captured in the online footage – that the Raise the Colour activists were asked to leave the premises.

In the footage, people can be heard taunting Danny over the colour of his skin – ‘you’re the problem in the country, you are’ – to which he simply responds: ‘I’m Irish.’

Dozens of people in the crowded pub loudly applauded Danny for his handling of the tense situation. 

He said he later received many messages of support online, including some from old school pals back in Drogheda who he had not heard from for years.

However, he admits he still has mixed feelings about the incident and how it was filmed and shared online for political purposes. 

He said he often thinks about what life will be like for the little boy who was led into the pub by the hand that day wearing the Raise the Colours T-shirt.

‘The kid, in years to come, will he be saying to his friends, “oh, a black bartender kicked us out of the bar”? He has not been given an opportunity to at least see what the world is like.’

Recalling the incident, he said: ‘Bless them, there was this lovely auld couple who were sitting at the bar, and they held their hands up to try and block the camera and I literally just said: “Let them record whatever… the reaction they want from me, I’m not going to give it to them.” You can see [in the video] I’m unbothered.

‘The reason I kept saying “I’m Irish” was I don’t care what your politics are over here. I came here to do whatever I am here to do. 

'I can see now that when cameras are on, you’re not here for a real conversation, you’re here for a reaction.

‘The one part I hate in the video is where I’m pushing a guy out. After it happened, I was panicking ’cos I know there’s a video out now.

‘At the end of the day, you can believe whatever you want. I don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable in the pub.’

Danny said of his childhood growing up in Drogheda: ‘My Mum didn’t take me to hate marches. Do you know where my Mum took me? I did the Stations of the Cross in Drogheda, I was an altar boy, I was going to football… I was able to go out with friends and experience the world. 

'She made me make my own choices. I feel like, when you don’t make a kid make their own choices, you rewrite their history.’

Danny said that, since the incident three weeks ago, several people have left a few quid behind the bar for him to enjoy a quiet drink in his own time.

But if others feeling like doing the same, he said he would prefer if they instead made a donation to the UK mental health charity Mind.

He said of the charity: ‘They have saved my life on numerous occasions in terms of the support and the activities they have.’