A group of East Clare volunteers have united to join in the Waterford Gaeltacht initiative Solas do Pháistí- Light for Children of Gaza this Wednesday night at 9.30pm.
People are invited to participate in lighting a candle at playgrounds in Scariff, Mountshannon , Feakle and Quin after sunset, in support of their campaign to light up Ireland to remember the many thousands of children who have been killed, maimed and orphaned by Israel in Gaza.
This May 1st vigil has been organised to show the children of Palestine that they have not been forgotten or abandoned by the world. Participants are urged to post a photograph or short video on the night and to share this on social media, using the hashtag #GaeilArSonGaza
The aim is to make Ireland glow and to show love and support for the children of Gaza. Participants will light a candle and pledge a donation on a GoFundMe page.
More than €10,000 has been sent to the Palestinian Red Cross and other charities from fundraising events in East Clare over the last six months.
Carol McNamara, Scariff, (65) who is one of the East Clare organisers, said the vigil is being held in playgrounds to illustrate the fact that between 14,000 and 15,000 children in Gaza have been killed and 17,000 have been left orphaned with no significant adult in their life.
The retired nurse told the Clare Champion at least 30,000 children have been left maimed or wounded in a country with a very young population.
“When people light their candles this moment will be captured on instagram. People in Palastine can see on their social media that people in Ireland care about them.
“We need to up the ante so that politicians from all parties sit up and take action. Politics very often follows people.
“Nobody knows what is under the rubble. I always emphasised with the Palestinians in the colonial break up. Nothing came on my radar since the way I felt since October.
“I can’t think of another global event that impacted on me as much as the attacks on Gaza.
“East Clare is steeped in support for the underdog. I think it is important to stop on May 1 and think about what is happening in Gaza.
“If we don’t raise our game, we will be on the wrong side of history.
From 2002 to 2014, Ms McNamara volunteered with the Niall Melon Trust in South Africa about seven times and her husband, Gerry, a carpenter went 14 times including some trips with the Ethel Normoyle Foundation.
Asked about claims from the Israeli Government they are acting in self-defence against a “terrorist” organisation and for her reaction to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, Ms McNamara stressed she abhorred all killings and all hostage takings.
She claimed it is a dangerous premise for some people to suggest this conflict started on October 7.
“Where you have occupation, you will have resistence. This is the story of Northern Ireland and every colonised country that has risen up when their lands were taken off them.
“This can’t be seen as a vacuum concerning the Hamas attacks on October 7. I don’t militarialism but I understand they (Hamas) are representing their people. I don’t condone any killing or the children who were taken during this conflict.
“I do believe in the Palestianian’s right to self-determination. The Israeli’s have no interest in having a ceasefire until they have totally ethnically cleansed the Gaza strip and they have pushed Palestianians where ever they are supposed to go,” she said.
If the Israeli Defence Forces proceed with a ground attack on Rafah where half of the population of Palestine are currently located, she warned this would result in an “unthinkable bloodbath” as there are no hospitals left and no proper medical supplies or equipment to treat war victims.
“This is collective punishment for innocent people who are bulldozed off their land to an enclave in Rafah. I can’t imagine how this will end. The UN are saying people in Gaza are five to six weeks off total famine.
“The trickle of humanitarian aid is totally inadequate. If there is a famine, how will we as a people live with ourselves?
“I am sure President Joe Biden is well capable of stopping the Rafa ground invasion if he wants to,” she said.
The aim of this campaign is one of solidarity, but also has a practical purpose to fundraise on GoFundMe page for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
More details about the campaign, can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/candles-for-gaza
Dan Danaher
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.