Speakers announced for public meeting on Palestine that will be held in Kilkenny

What can we do about the situation in Gaza? That’s one of the questions that will be probed at an upcoming event in Kilkenny City.

Senator Frances Black, Senator Patricia Stephenson and Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin will speak at a public meeting on Palestine and the campaign for the Occupied Territories Bill on Monday, July 21 at 7pm in the Club House Hotel, Kilkenny.

This event has been organised by the Kilkenny Community Palestine Solidarity Group.

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Topics will include events in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and speakers will discuss ongoing actions at Government and EU level and locally in Kilkenny aimed at securing peace, stopping the genocide and ending apartheid to bring a better future for Palestine/Israel.

Senator Frances Black has led the campaign to end imports into Ireland from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land for over seven years – the Occupied Territories Bill was originally passed in 2018.

Senator Black will give an update on the progress of the Bill through the Oireachtas and on the current redrafting as it moves through amendment, she hopes, towards enactment as law.

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People of all ages have been taking part in the weekly ceasefire vigil on The Parade on Wednesday evenings (5.30 to 6pm).

The vigil was started in October 2023 by Kevin Shore (PBP) and Aoife Bourke (IPSC) along with the Kilkenny Refugee Support Group.

The Kilkenny Community Palestine Solidarity Group was formed in March 2024 by people attending the vigil so that individuals from different parties and those with no particular affiliation could come together to organise actions in support of Palestinian human rights.

Members have taken part in vigils, national demonstrations, boycotts of Israeli goods, political lobbying, and have organised public meetings, music events, film nights and other community activities.

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The group is pleased to host this meeting and calls on all community groups and individuals in Kilkenny who want to stand up for Gaza to join a march through Kilkenny on Saturday, August 2, in solidarity with the people of Palestine, gathering at The Parade at 1pm.

All are welcome to the meeting. There is no entry charge and all donations will go to UNRWA.

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