Nick Griffin has been invited to speak at a Trinity College Dublin event.

A university spokeswoman confirmed that the British National Party leader is set to appear at a Philosophical Society meeting on October 20.

According to a post on the personal blog of the party's media officer Simon Darby, Griffin was invited along with a "BNP delegation" for a debate titled: "This House Believes Immigration Has Gone Too Far".

The university did not confirm if there would be any other outside guests at the event.

Mr Darby said: "Let's all hope the students in Dublin hold their nerve against the inevitable, liberal fascist onslaught against free speech."

In 2007 Griffin appeared at the Oxford Union along with convicted Holocaust denier David Irving. Anti-fascist demonstrators held a protest outside the talk.

The Union of Jewish Students urged Trinity College to "deny the BNP a platform".

"Trinity ought to take heed from what has happened in the past when BNP members have appeared on UK campuses," they said. "Publicity stunts such as these tear apart student communities and contribute to a hostile environment for Jewish students on campus."

The University Philosophical Society was founded in the 17th century and former members include the writers Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde.