Ireland

Pro-Palestine concert at RTÉ calls for boycott of Eurovision

Activists, musicians and actors call for broadcaster to reverse decision on coverage of the song contest over Israeli participation

Protesters outside RTÉ in Dublin on Thursday. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Thu May 2 2024 - 18:48

Some 100 activists, musicians, actors and spectators gathered at the entrance to RTÉ in Donnybrook on Thursday evening for a mini-concert in support of the Palestinian people and to call for a boycott of the Eurovision.

Activists with loud hailers led the crown in chants of “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as Palestinian and Irish flags flew from a bridge across the N11. Car drivers beeped their horns and waved as the concert got under way with actor Stephen Rea reading Refaat Alareer’s poem ‘If I Should Die’.

LGBT and human rights activist Ciarna Hackett urged those attending to “keep turning up” and to keep expressing their support for the Palestinian people. She said while the news coming out of Gaza was bleak, small gatherings were a chance for people to show solidarity “in the darkness” and were the “refuelling stations” for what she said was “a beautiful love and passion”.

Hothouse Flowers frontman Liam Ó Maonlaí said he had grown up down the road and had gone to to school nearby at Colaiste Eoin where he learned appreciation for old songs of resistance. . He spoke of “the absurdity of the language that is used to excuse the buying and selling of weapons to anyone who will buy them”.

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“I am trying to sing” he responded when the cacophony of passing car horns rose to a crescendo.

Mary Coughlan, Honor Heffernan and actor and singer Steve Wall were among those who sang. Mr Wall, who sings with The Stunning sang a song he had written about atrocities in Northern Ireland, entitled Men Without Souls.

Speaking for the organisers, the Irish Boycott Eurovision 2024 Coalition, spokesperson and IPSC chairwoman, Zoe Lawlor said “Israel’s President Yitzhak Herzog has stated ‘it’s important for Israel to appear in Eurovision.’ We say the opposite.”

From left to right: Liam Ó’Maonlai, Steve Wall, Mary Coughlan and Stephen Rae at the protest. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

The Irish Boycott Eurovision 2024 Coalition is comprised of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Irish Artists for Palestine, Apartheid-Free Arts and Palfest Ireland.

Ms Lawlor said “Ireland has shown the way in the 1980s in exposing the crimes of apartheid South Africa. It can do the same now, by withdrawing its participation, and standing on the side of humanity, equality and human rights. ”

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural boycott of Israel (PACBI), and the Palestinian led global BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement have called on all countries to refuse to participate in the Eurovision because of Israel’s inclusion

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign has written to RTE’s director general Kevin Bakhurst, and the RTÉ board, asking them to respect the Palestinian boycott request. It said more than 16,500 Irish people have signed a petition to RTÉ to this effect, and some 400 artists have written to Irish participant Bambie Thug requesting that they make a historic stand for justice by refusing to perform.

However, RTÉ has confirmed it is to go ahead with its coverage of the contest.

A spokeswoman for the national broadcaster said: “RTÉ has always approached the Eurovision Song Contest in the spirit in which it was founded – which is a non-political contest designed to unite audiences and bring people together through a shared love of music and entertainment.

“Thirty-seven nations including Ireland will take part in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. RTÉ is not aware of any participating public service Broadcaster who is planning to boycott the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.”

Irish entrant Bambie Thug has previously backed “an immediate and lasting ceasefire” but has refused to boycott the event.

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