Mayo sends clear message of solidarity with Palestine - ‘You will never have peace until you have justice'
Debbie McCole from Shanaghy Ballina, is the chairperson for the Mayo branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which is described as an 'apolitical and movement-focused' group.
Speaking to the Irish Independent Ms McCole explained why she is fighting for justice,
'I often think it's a very interesting conversation around justice versus peace. An awful lot of people will advocate for peace but it's very easy to mistake one for the other. You will never really have peace until you have full justice.'
Ballina has been holding a weekly vigil on Ham Bridge since the end of May last year. It came to be referred to as a 'Bridgvil'.
'I am very proud to stand on that bridge and represent humanity,' said Debbie, who admitted she was nervous at first as she had not been involved in protests of any form before,
'We are very lucky in Mayo that we have such an active community and everybody is anxious to do something. I think people are finding the courage to stand up and say no this is enough now.'
The former teacher continued, 'International law has been decimated. Until there has been some trust restored and people can see that justice has been served for the Palestinian people, then our work is not done.'
This distrust towards the international community is a feeling shared by local musician Patrick O'Laoghaire from Louisburg, who said he felt that the 'social contract of trust has been broken.'
Mr O'Laoghaire is set to take part in a walk from Achill Sound to Westport on Saturday June 21st in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The route has been chosen as it is roughly the same distance as walking from one end of the Gaza Strip to the other.
Inspiration for the 42 km walk came when Patrick, along with his wife, were walking their dog on Silver Strand in Mayo and a plane passed over them.
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'It reminded me of Shannon [airport]. It struck me that I'm living in Mayo, it's sunny here, I have the dog with me and there's a plane passing over and I know that some of them come [via] that route to refuel and fly on.' The route he is referring to is one that is reportedly used by US military aircrafts enroute to the Middle East.
Patrick said he felt helpless in that moment and questioned.
'Can I lie with that helplessness or can I go back to being inspired by the people of Gaza and Palestine by walking and thinking of them? With walking there is a movement, a physical movement. There's energy in it.'
Mr O'Laoghaire has a personal connection to Gaza through his passion for music which led him to connect with Gaza-based musician Ahmed Abuamsha on social media.
'The musicians I have made contact with in Gaza, they are singing. I'm learning their songs. When they are teaching me their songs they're teaching me that they have a life, a culture, things that are important to them. You can get a lot from a song,'
Patrick continued, 'A couple of days ago they took the signal away and I was waiting for Ahmed to get back to me, and it was a feeling of 'Is he alright?' But he did come back online and he was singing with a group of children, all of them singing,
'I'm careful not to become hopeless, I feel that to lose hope does a disservice to the people in Palestine and Gaza who are somehow hanging onto hope and joy. I'm not taking inspiration from my government, I'm taking inspiration from people who are there'.
Similar to Patrick, Debbie is shared her concern over reports that Shannon Airport is used as a refuelling spot for the US military. Ms McCole also stated the airport is used to bring weapons 'through and over the country'.
She said, 'It's so blatant and they (the government) just pretend it's not happening, it's terrible gaslighting.'
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris spoke in the Dáil in March and denied any claims of US weapons travelling through Shannon Airport,
'It is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. The system of exemptions is operated under the Air Navigation Orders 1973 and 1989, by the Department of Transport.'
He assured the house that 'In 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel.'
While in office as Taoiseach, Mr Harris stood alongside Spain and Norway in May 2024 and announced the recognition of the State of Palestine. He has been vocal on Ireland's historical and 'principled position' for the 'equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike' committing to an 'unwavering support for the two-State solution'.
Ms McCole elaborated on Ireland's historic stance in previous conflicts saying,
'We as Irish people have a good reputation in regards to human rights and standing on the side of the oppressed traditionally,'
She has not been convinced by the Government's words and said they take advantage of Ireland's history 'to be able to say nice things' but 'Palestinians can't eat the words that they're saying. It doesn't translate into material changes on the ground.'
According to data published yesterday by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported at least 55,637 Palestinians have been killed and a further 129,880 have been injured since October 7th 2023.
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