Palestine ambassador 'bowled over' by reception at Cork gaelscoil

THE Palestinian ambassador to Ireland was “bowled over” by how she was welcomed at a Cork gaelscoil, and she praised the “demonstration of solidarity and support for Palestine”.

Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid was welcomed to Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers, in Farranferris recently, where students fervently expressed their support for the people of Palestine, with chants of ‘saor, saor Phailistín’ (‘free, free, Palestine’).

“It was a fantastic occasion. I think the ambassador was really moved by the reception she got from the children,” Mick Nugent, a Cork City councillor and member of the board of directors of the school, told The Echo.

“The children’s choir sang and a number of the teachers, as well, accompanied with musical instruments.

“The Palestinian flag is always flying on the school grounds.

“Presentations were made to the ambassador, who also gave gifts to the school.

“I think she was really bowled over by the reception she got.”

The Palestinian death toll from the war has now reached over 30,000 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says women and children make up 66% of the total.

It says 72,000 people have been wounded.

Irael launched its offensive after Hamas-led militants stormed across the border on October 7.

Mr Nugent said the Palestinian ambassador’s visit to the school on Friday was poignant.

“I, and I’m sure others, were thinking of the children of Gaza, of a similar age. It’s horrific what’s going on. Children have been killed and maimed and injured and lost family members,” he said.

The ambassador, he said, gave a brief address to the school during her visit, acknowledging the support, and thanking the school and wider community in Cork for their support.

In a post on X, the social media-platform formerly known as Twitter, the Mission of the State of Palestine to Ireland said the ambassador was “honoured” to have visited Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers and extended her “heartfelt appreciation to school principal Adrian Breathnach and the exceptionally talented students”.