MEMBERS OF the Clare branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) have committed to holding weekly demonstrations so long as Israel maintains its presence in Gaza.
In what was the biggest attendance at the annual New Year’s Eve vigil by the Clare IPSC at the Club Bridge in Ennis, close to 200 people stood in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Clare’s branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) have amassed a strong turnout for their New Year’s Eve vigil at the Club Bridge in Ennis.
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Among them were hotelier John Burke, actress Aoibhin Garrihy, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF), local election candidate Thomas Guilfoyle (SF), Ennis activists Dermot Hayes, Liam Shortall and Sarah Ferrigan plus a wide selection of personnel from a multitude of backgrounds.
Finbarr MacGabhann who has been actively involved with the Clare IPSC for years told those gathered that they “always commemorate” at the Club Bridge this year.
He was struck by the size of the attendance for the 2023 vigil. “I hope that this will be a transition to peace”.
MacGabhann reserved praise for Cllr McGettigan after the Shannon representative put forward a motion at the December meeting of Clare County Council which referenced the ongoing bombardment and collective punishment by Israel of innocent men, women and children in Gaza over the last seven weeks.
“We therefore formally endorse and support the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to compel Israel to comply with international law and universal human rights. In addition, we support calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and full humanitarian intervention to alleviate the suffering of the people of the besieged Gaza Strip. We call for the release of all hostages and prisoners by both sides as part of a comprehensive ceasefire,” McGettigan’s motion read.
Speaking on New Year’s Eve, Finbarr stated, “We start as we mean to go on because that is what the Israelis are doing. If the Israelis are in Gaza then we’ll continue to be on the streets”.
