Over 100 people attend vigil for Gaza in Offaly county town
Tullamore for Gaza group plans more activities and appeals for support
A GROUP of over 100 people gathered on Saturday afternoon in Tullamore's O'Connor Square for a candlelit vigil to display their solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Over 14,000 people have been killed in the occupied territories by Israeli forces since October.
The vigil was organised by Tullamore for Gaza, a group of local people, from a variety of backgrounds, nationalities and faiths. Attendees brought flags, candles and pairs of children's shoes, a poignant symbol of the thousands of children's lives lost in this most recent conflict.
The vigil included a variety of speakers, poetry and music : Councillor Seán O'Brien, Shishir restaurant owner Asad Khondkar, David Mallaghan, Fiona Dunkin, Cian McMahon, Gavin Ghee and Niamh Dooley.
Organiser in the group, Fiona Dunkin, said: “It was really heartening to see so many people, of all ages and nationalities, from Tullamore out to stand in solidarity with the thousands of people who've been killed in Gaza and the over one million displaced. We are calling for an immediate, meaningful ceasefire, not a brief pause to Israel's indiscriminate attacks, and the referral of Israel to the International Criminal Court.”
Tullamore for Gaza is organising a fundraiser for the Unicef Gaza Appeal next Saturday, December 2, from 12 - 2 p.m. in the Shishir restaurant on High Street in Tullamore. Finger food provided, family friendly event, all welcome.
To get involved with Tullamore for Gaza, email them at tullamoreforgaza@ gmail.com or message them on their Facebook or Instagram pages.