Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
التضامن الإيرلندي الفلسطيني

Culture

Eurovision: The Questions RTÉ Refuse to Answer

Last month, as news began to emerge of how the Israeli state was planning to politicise and militarise the Eurovision Song Contest, the Irish Campaign to Boycott Eurovision 2019 in Apartheid Israel wrote to RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, with a series of questions regarding how these manoeuvres were going to be dealt with. Almost a month later, and despite following up, RTÉ have refused to respond. What steps are RTÉ taking to ensure that the Irish act chosen for this year will not perform for soldiers from the Israeli military? It should be absolutely unthinkable that the national Irish broadcaster … Continue reading

Eurovision boycott debate on tonight’s Late Late Show – Join the online action!

We in the Irish Campaign to Boycott Eurovison 2019 in Apartheid Israel have just found out that there will be a debate on the Eurovision on tonight’s Late Late Show on RTÉ One. For some reason RTÉ have not invited any representative from the boycott campaign to the debate, and instead will have a 2 to 1 stacked panel, with former Eurovision winner Linda Martin and actor – and propagandist for Israel’s apartheid regime – Rory Cowan arguing against a boycott, while well-known singer and human rights advocate Mary Coughlan will be the sole voice arguing in favour. Sarah McTernan, … Continue reading

Speaking & Exhibition Tour: Palestinian artist and political cartoonist Mohammad Saba’aneh

“A gut punch that gets straight to the essence of the stark reality of Palestinian life under Israeli occupation. This is how an artist resists.” – Joe Sacco “Sharp, incisive cartoons. His tenacity and courage is an inspiration for cartoonists around the world.” – Matt Wuerker “Images saturated with action and iconography… every tiny detail is pregnant with meaning.” – Marguerite Dabaie Between 27th March and 4th April the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is honoured to host a speaking and exhibition tour with acclaimed Palestinian political cartoonist Mohammad Saba’aneh. ‘Palestine in Black and White’ is an intimate and powerful portrayal of … Continue reading

RTÉ asked to support call for ban on Eurovision broadcast in illegal Israeli settlements

On Thursday 6th December, to coincide with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)’s General Assembly, the Irish Campaign to Boycott the Eurovision in Apartheid Israel 2019 wrote to the Director General of RTÉ, Dee Forbes, Rory Coveney, Strategic Advisor to the Director General, and Michael Kealy, Head of RTÉ’s delegation for Eurovision, asking them to call on the EBU not to broadcast any Eurovision events into Israel’s illegal settlements in occupied Palestine. The international campaign, acting in solidarity with Palestinian civil society, has widespread support with over 30,000 people signing a European-wide petition demanding the Eurovision not be held in Israel. … Continue reading

20 more public figures join Irish Eurovision boycott campaign as RTE announces call for submissions

The Irish Campaign to boycott the Eurovision in Israel 2019, has secured the support of a further 20 public figures including actor Stephen Rea, and musical artists Mary Coughlan, Luka Bloom and the members of Kíla , have called on RTÉ not to participate and for musicians not to make submissions to the contest. The news comes just days after the Irish National Broadcaster RTÉ announced its call for entrants for the song contest. The other new endorsers include singers and musicians Grainne Holland, Tiona McSherry, and the members of FreeSpeakingMonkey, veteran LGBTQ campaigner Cathal Kerrigan, former Lord Mayor of … Continue reading

RTÉ Director General meets with Palestinian rights campaigners over Eurovision boycott; 11,000-strong petition in support of boycott handed in

On Wednesday 26th September, representatives of the Irish campaign for a boycott of Eurovision 2019 in Israel held a meeting with the Director General of RTÉ Dee Forbes. At the meeting, at which Rory Coveney, Strategic Advisor to the Director General of RTÉ, and Michael Kealy, Head of RTÉ’s delegation for Eurovision, were also present, a petition signed by over 11,000 people was handed in. The campaigners explained the strength and breadth of support for a boycott in Irish society – including from Irish and international public figures like Roger Waters, Brian Eno, Wolf Alice, Christy Moore, Mary Black, Charlie … Continue reading

Over 140 leading International and Irish artists issue letter calling for boycott of Eurovision in Israel

Mike Murphy, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Charlie McGettigan, Mary Coughlan, Luka Bloom and Robert Ballagh are among 141 international artists who signed a letter supporting the Palestinian call for a boycott of Eurovision 2019 due to be hosted in Israel. Also among the signatories to the letter are Brian Eno, The Knife, Wolf Alice, Ken Loach, Mike Leigh, Moddi, Alia Shawkat, Roger Waters, Alexi Sayle, Julie Christie, AL Kennedy and Nick Seymour of Crowded House. In an open letter published in The Guardian this evening, they write: “Until Palestinians can enjoy freedom, justice and equal rights to all humans, there … Continue reading

The ‘Irish Artists’ Pledge to Boycott Israel’ reaches landmark 600 signatures

As calls grow for Ireland to boycott the 2019 Eurovision due to be held in Israel, the “Irish Artists’ Pledge to Boycott Israel” has just passed the 600 signatory mark. Current signatories include Stephen Rea, Sinéad Cusack, Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Damien Dempsey, Neilí Conroy, Conor Kostick, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Barry Murphy, Sharon Shannon, Robert Ballagh, Mary Black, Kíla, Mike Murphy and Frances Black. See the full list and sign up yourself at https://www.ipsc.ie/pledge The Pledge – which commits signatories to refrain from performing in the apartheid state of Israel – was launched by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) in … Continue reading

Lord Mayor to open major Dublin two-day Palestinian Freedom Conference this weekend featuring Palestinian, Israeli & international speakers

Dublin’s Liberty Hall will play host to the ‘Palestinian Freedom Conference: Overcoming the Ongoing Nakba’ this coming Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May. The conference will feature human rights defenders, experts, academics and activists from Palestine, Israel, Ireland and elsewhere. Tickets can be booked through the conference website at https://www.ipsc.ie/pfc To mark the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Trade Union Friends of Palestine and BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights are honoured to host an inspiring and action-focused weekend of talks from important voices in the Palestinian struggle for Freedom, Justice and … Continue reading

International Women’s Day message from IPSC Chairperson Fatin Al Tamimi

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) Chairperson Fatin Al Tamimi was a speaker alongside the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, author Nell Regan, the indomitable community workers Rita Fegan and Fidelma Bonass at an International Women’s Day event in Dublin’s Richmond Barracks, organised by the St. Michaels Estate Family Resource Centre. Ms. Tamimi’s speech praised the role of women in the Palestinian fight for freedom, justice and equality, and located the struggle for Palestinian liberty within the broader struggle against oppression and injustice everywhere. She ended by reading a poem entitled ‘Here We Shall Stay’ by Palestinian poet Tawfiq Ziad. During … Continue reading

Take Action: Ask soprano Celine Byrne not to sing for Apartheid Israel

Dear Friends, Irish soprano Celine Byrne is scheduled to perform as Donna Elvira in ‘Don Giovanni’ with the Israeli Opera from February 8th to 23rd 2018. Such a performance would be a breach of the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Israel which asks international artists to refrain from normalising Israel’s regime of settler colonialism, military occupation and vicious apartheid by refusing to perform there. Since 2006 the Israeli government has been engaged in an aggressive public relations campaign known as ‘Brand Israel’ which, in the words of Nissim Ben-Shitrit, the former head of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, promotes “culture … Continue reading

Watch: ‘What We Saw In Palestine’ with Mike Murphy, Neilí Conroy, Harry Browne and Betty Purcell

On Thursday 9th November the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) was proud to host an important public forum featuring four well-known Irish public figures who discussed their experiences of four separate fact-finding trips to Israeli-occupied Palestine. The meeting saw former-RTE broadcaster Mike Murphy, actor Neilí Conroy, and journalist and lecturer Dr. Harry Browne in conversation with Betty Purcell, TV producer and Irish Human Rights and Equality Commissioner. It took place on Thursday 9th November in Dublin. Note – there is a podcast of the event available here – the podcast includes the Q&A session with the audience, while the video does … Continue reading

Report: Cultural evening marking International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People opened by Lord Mayor of Dublin

On the evening of the 29th November 2017, to mark the UN’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) hosted an evening of Palestinian culture in the Oak Room of the Mansion House, the Mayor’s official residence. Scores of IPSC campaigners, activists from other solidarity and human rights groups, and City Councillors, Senators and TDs gathered to experience a showcase of Palestinian culture in the form of music, song, poetry, and of course, food. Although unable to make it, President Michael D. Higgins sent good wishes to all present.   … Continue reading

Watch: ‘Life in Palestine’ 2018 calendar launched by Lord Mayor of Dublin

On Friday 10th November, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Mícheál Mac Donncha officially launched the 2018 ‘Life in Palestine’ calendar produced by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). Also speaking were Ms. Jilan Abdalmajid, Deputy Head of the Mission of the State of Palestine to Ireland, IPSC Chairperson Ms. Fatin Al Tamimi, and Jim Bowen from the IPSC’s Cork Branch. TO BUY THE CALENDAR CLICK HERE — http://www.ipsc.ie/store The theme of this year’s calendar is ‘Life in Palestine’, and every month explores a different aspect of the lives of ordinary Palestinians, and the difficulties and injustices they face living under Israeli’s … Continue reading

Watch: Street Theatre – Palestinian Olive Harvest (in Dublin)

On Saturday 28th October 2017 members and supporters of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign engaged in street theatre in Dublin’s Grafton Street shopping district. The action explored the experiences of Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season, which is underway right now. The period always sees an uptick in the number of violent attacks on Palestinian farmers and their olive groves by illegal Israeli colonial settlers, backed up by the Israeli occupation forces. Olive trees carry more than an economic significance in the lives of Palestinians. They are not just like any another trees, they are symbolic of Palestinians’ attachment to … Continue reading

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