Pictures: Crowds attend annual George Brown memorial event in Kilkenny, with plight of Palestinians to the fore

The Palestinian Ambassador HE Dr Jilan Abdalmajid was the special guest at a memorable Inistioge George Brown Memorial event at the weekend.

As has been customary, the special guest was invited to plant a specimen tree (a Cedar of Lebanon) in Woodstock Gardens on Friday evening. There followed a ceremony in St Colmcille Graveyard, Inistioge at which she, along with Cllr Sean Ó hArgáin, placed a wreath at the George Brown Memorial Plaque.

(a Cedar of Lebanon) in Woodstock Gardens on Friday evening. There followed a ceremony in St Colmcille Graveyard, Inistioge at which she, along with Cllr Sean Ó hArgáin, placed a wreath at the George Brown Memorial Plaque.

Afterwards, Dr Abdalmajid in a wide-ranging address to a full house in St Mary’s Church of Ireland spoke movingly of the plight of her fellow citizens in Gaza and the West Bank. She paid particular tribute to the people of Ireland who have, over the years, supported the Palestinian case for peace and justice.

She express her deepest gratitude to the Irish Government for the efforts at European level, and using its special access to the US. administration during St Patrick festivities to urge a just settlement for Palestinians. These actions, and especially the recent recognition of the State of Palestine she assured the gathering are far from being empty gestures, but are deeply appreciated by the Palestinian people as they them hope which they earnestly crave for a better tomorrow.

The assembly was also addressed by Cllr Ó hArgáin who passionately encapsulated the views of the majority of Irish people on the Palestinian question. He was joined by former Senator and long-time advocate for justice for Palestinians, Kilkenny-man Mick Lanigan. Senator Lanigan was founder of Friends of Palestine in the Oireachtas and for his work he was awarded the Order of Bethlehem in 2008 by Yassar Arafat in Ramallah.

Undoubtedly, the most poignant contribution came from Mamar Salah, a young woman from Gaza, who arrived in Ireland one month before the October 7 attack by Hamas on the south of Israel, is now a Masters Student at SETU (Carlow Campus). She has since been joined by her brother, Ammar, who was successfully smuggled out of Gaza.
PICTURES: MMA COMES TO BALLYKEEFE

Following the standing ovation at the conclusion of the Ambassador’s address, Dr Abdalmajid was presented with a bouquet of flowers bedecked with ribbons in the Palestinian colours by Amanda Richards, representing the organising committee. Former UNITE the Union leader, Jimmy Kelly, also presented the Ambassador with a copy of his recently published autobiography – ‘At the end of the day’.

A collection taken up in aid of UNICEF Ireland – Children of Gaza Appeal realised €1,050.
A wet Saturday put paid to the outdoor entertainment plans – a Spanish guitar recital by Craig Ó Mathúna, and the traditional recital by the Graignamanagh Brass Band on the Square in

A collection taken up in aid of UNICEF Ireland – Children of Gaza Appeal realised €1,050.
A wet Saturday put paid to the outdoor entertainment plans – a Spanish guitar recital by Craig Ó Mathúna, and the traditional recital by the Graignamanagh Brass Band on the Square in Inistioge. Undaunted, a nice crowd gathered in the Conservatory Tearoom in Woodstock to listen to Spanish Civil War Historian, Harry Owens comment on current affairs.

Undaunted, a nice crowd gathered in the Conservatory Tearoom in Woodstock to listen to Spanish Civil War Historian, Harry Owens comment on current affairs.

He urged the people to support the Palestinians, and equally he argued that we should support those Israelis who are opposed to the actions of the Netanyahu administration. Furthermore, he reminded his audience of the contribution of the small Irish Jewish community to civil and political life and stressed the importance of opposing attempts to vilify and isolate them.

A special tribute was paid to the late Nuala Prendergast, a local SIPTU trade union activist, who died in course of the last year. Nuala was a regular attendee at the annual memorial event and took a keen interest in every aspect of it.

This year’s commemoration concluded with the laying of a wreath by former UNITE official, Sean Kelly, at the Olive Grove in Woodstock’s Walled Garden which commemorates the four Kilkenny men who joined the International Brigades – Seán Dowling, Michael Brennan, Michael and George Brown. A very enjoyable music session with popular local duo, Michael and Eamon Holden, in the Woodstock Arms brought this year’s event to a close.