Opinion
11 Oct 24

Irish artists issue call to 'descend on Shannon Airport' tomorrow

Stand for Rafah pro-Palestine demonstration at The Dáil, Dublin. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Some of the country's most renowned musicians, actors, comedians, broadcasters and writers have lent their voices to the new video, demanding "US warplanes out of Shannon"

The #DescendOnShannon campaign continues to build momentum ahead of the planned demonstration tomorrow – with Irish Artists For Palestine sharing a special video last night, starring some of the country's leading creatives.

"Our government has been allowing US warplanes to go through Irish airspace!" the caption of the video reads. "We are saying NO warplanes through Shannon airport!"

The video, soundtracked by the music of Belfast-based group Huartan, features Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Pillow Queens' Pamela Connolly, Alison Spittle, Simone Kirby, Clare Sands, Ailbhe Reddy, MayKay, Elaine May, Gemma Doherty, Mango, Síomha, Tadhg Hickey, Pauline Scanlon, Claire Beck, Michael Magee, Ispíní na hÉireann's Tomás Mulligan and many more – all calling on the Irish people to join tomorrow's demonstration at Shannon Airport.

In a statement earlier this month, the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) National Committee – the Palestinian leadership of the global BDS movement – called on "the people of Ireland to increase the pressure on their complicit government to make it impose meaningful sanctions on Israel to end its genocide against our people in Gaza, and help us dismantle its illegal regime of military occupation and apartheid."

Earlier this week, People Before Profit–Solidarity TD Mick Barry told the Dáil that there is "no place at Shannon Airport for US planes bringing arms to Israel". He has also called on the public to join tomorrow's protest.

The demonstration is set to take place at Shannon Airport tomorrow, October 12, at 1pm.

Watch Irish Artists For Palestine's video below: