Gaza aid flotilla: Dublin Tunnel reopens after pro-Palestine protestors blocked Dublin Port entrance
Kenneth Fox
Dublin Port and the Dublin Tunnel have reopened after protesters blocked the entrance to Dublin Port.
The protest caused major traffic disruptions in the city centre on Thursday.
Traffic is to be brought through the tunnel in small groups to avoid toll queues, according to LiveDrive on X.
Severe delays remain across the region.
The protestors were demonstrating in reaction to up to 14 Irish citizens being detained by Israeli forces that are part of the Gaza aid flotilla.
A notification from Transport Infrastructure Ireland on X said: "Incident cleared: Protest on Dublin Tunnel between Lane 1 and Lane 2 (Southbound) Lanes affected: Full Road Closure".
Some of the groups that took part in the demonstration included the likes of Trinity College Dublin's Boycott and the Divestment and Sanctions Committee.
Dublin port currently blocked by people demanding the Irish government take decisive action against Israel for their unlawful interception of the flotilla pic.twitter.com/ktdTHR2KNY
— Joan Byrne (@jemb123) October 2, 2025
Earlier on Thursday, Sinn Féin foreign affairs spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said he had received confirmation that a legal firm had received calls from participants “that immigration authorities have already begun conducting hearings on their deportation and detention orders in the Ashdod port”, without prior notice to their lawyers.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said he understands Irish citizens had identified potential sources of legal representation on the ground, and “I’ll certainly take that up as soon as I leave here.”
Israeli forces have intercepted more than 30 boats carrying aid and foreign activists, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, to Gaza. Organisers have accused Israel of the “illegal abduction” of Irish citizens.
The names of nine Irish citizens were released by organisers, who said they had been detained when their boats were intercepted.
These were: Colm Peter Byrne on board the Hio, Cormac Kevin O’Daly on board the Yulara, Louise Heaney on the Dir Yassine, Caitríona Graham on the Aurora, Sinn Féin Senator Christopher Andrews and Sarah Catherine Clancy on board the Spectre, Tara O’Grady on the Alma, and Diarmuid Mac Dubhglais and Thomas Doherty on the Sirius.
A further six Irish people were on board the Amsterdam, Fair Lady, Ohwayla, Meteque, and Paola I, which are assumed, but not confirmed to be, intercepted. These are Donna Marie Schwarz, Patrick Kelly, Patrick O’Donovan, Tara Rose Sheehy, Anthony (Tadgh) Hickey, and Mary [sometimes named as Maureen] Almai.
