Cork City Hall to fly Palestinian flag

THE Palestinian flag will be flown at Cork City Hall today for International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Ten Cork people will also embark on a 24-hour fast to mark the day. The group comprises Mr Collins, Mr Nugent, Colum Radford, Eve O’Riordan, Tadhg Hickey, Fadila Alubeidi, Joe Moore, Christina Collins, Paddy Rodgers, and Saoirse Ní Fhlannagáin.

Mr Radford draws inspiration from his grandfather, who was among the Irish freedom fighters arrested in Cork City Hall in 1920.

“We stand with the Palestinian people in their hour of need, so drawing on inspiration from our own Irish martyrs who died for Irish freedom, we will embark on a 24-hour fast to support the Palestinians in a gesture of solidarity from here in Cork,” he said.

Comedian and writer Tadhg Hickey said: “A Palestinian friend told me that when Palestinians accept only water and salt in Israeli prisons, they call it an ‘Irish hunger strike’.

“It seems a fitting, symbolic way for Irish groups to show our solidarity with the besieged people of Gaza right now.”

A spokesperson for Cork City Council confirmed to The Echo that the flag would be flown, and that the building would be “lit up in the colours of the Palestinian flag between 9pm and 10pm for United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People”.

Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins told The Echo: “It is fantastic to see that Cork people are still standing with the Palestinian people. There is a history of Cork people standing up for the oppressed.”

He explained that City Hall being lit up will coincide with a vigil tonight, which he invited the people of Cork to attend.

His party colleague, councillor Mick Nugent, said: “We are inviting members of the public to come, bring candles or Palestinian flags — we are hoping to have a line of people from the City Hall to Connolly Hall.”