The Cork Council of Trade Unions presented a bowl of shamrock to the Palestinian community at an event marking the unveiling of a new banner on the SIPTU headquarters in the city, Connolly Hall on Lapps Quay, which calls on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill.
The Honorary President of the Cork Council of Trade Unions, Joe Kelly, alongside the Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle, and President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, Finbar Geaney, presented a bowl of shamrock to Kanan, a young member of the Palestinian community, at a lunchtime ceremony outside Connolly Hall.
Kelly said: “The bowl of shamrock symbolises the continuing solidarity between the people of Ireland and Palestine. Just as we have strong links to the people of America, through our shared history of oppression and long search for peace our people are now similarly linked to Palestine.”
Cork Council of Trade Unions spokesperson and SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “This week, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin handed a bowl of shamrock to Donald Trump in Washington. While we understand the political necessity in the Taoiseach maintaining what is a several decades long tradition we feel it is equally essential that we mark the continuing oppression of the Palestinian people by Israel with the backing of the USA.
“Trump has threatened to remove the Palestinian population from Gaza and turn the area into some form of holiday resort, in what would amount to the largest case of ethnic cleansing of a population since World War Two.”
He added: “By our symbolic presentation of a bowl of shamrock to the Cork Palestinian community we wish to make clear that the people of Ireland stand with the Palestinians in their search for peace and justice in their homeland. The Government must live up to its commitment to the people of Ireland and Palestine by enacting the Occupied Territories Bill immediately. We cannot accept products or services in Ireland which are produced on land illegally stolen from the Palestinian people.”
Also in attendance at the ceremony was the SIPTU Honorary President, Mary O’Sullivan, Senator Laura Harmon and several Cork City councillors.