Palestine protesters in Cork urged to don their GAA colours 

People are being encouraged to get involved in tomorrow’s demonstration in support of the Palestinian people by donning their GAA colours.

Organisers are encouraging people to recognise the parallels between the experiences of the Irish and Palestinian people at this week’s protest.

Those who plan on attending the protest tomorrow, organised by Palestine solidarity groups from across Cork, are asked to wear their GAA tops, jerseys, or something alternative that they feel expresses their cultural affinity and solidarity with Palestine.

The protest will mark 47 weeks of people taking to the streets of the city centre to show their support for Palestine and demand action from the Government and Irish universities to oppose Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Theme

The theme of this week’s protest is ‘Ireland, Palestine: Cultures of Resistance’, and aims to pay tribute to the Palestinian people’s inspirational struggle for freedom, their resilience and, in the words of event organisers, “their refusal to allow their culture to be destroyed by the Israeli state”.

An event spokesperson said: “Irish songs of struggle and songs dedicated to the Palestinian people will be performed on stage and all protestors will be invited to sing during the first half of the march.

‘The Fields of Palestine’ — a rewritten version of ‘The Fields of Athenry’ — will be sung by protesters from Grand Parade to the end of Oliver Plunkett St with organisers saying they want the street to “resound with our passion”.

“We will march on Patrick’s St in silence, and on our way back into the rally we will sing the chorus from ‘Oro Se do Bheath Abhaile’. Please bring instruments if you have them, to play along as we march.

“Dress up in your local GAA colours or wear something you feel expresses your cultural affinity with Palestine.”

Last week, hundreds of protesters, led by students from University College Cork’s Global Justice Society, marched through the streets of Cork City for the 46th protest.