Sally Rooney and Omar Barghouti speak at BDS Panel: "The Irish government is not listening to its people, not just about Palestine but about everything"

Sally Rooney and Omar Barghouti took part of a panel discussion on Palestine action and Ireland's involvement, hosted by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement which took place last night at the Teachers Club in Dublin.

The BDS movement is a Palestinian-led, global non-violent initiative launched in 2005 by Barghouti, modelled on the struggle against South African apartheid.

“Holding this panel is important because Ireland is unique in the sense that support for Palestinian among Irish people is immense yet it is not reflected at a government level,” said Barghouti.

“This is the world's first lived-streamed genocide, that level of impunity is new, it’s taking the world to the law of the jungle,” he continued. “What we saw in Lebanon, in Iran, and the bombing of school girls, and of course the genocide, unless we, the people of the world, unite to stop the ‘might makes right’ order to challenge it and resist it by forming massive coalitions that insist on human rights for all. If we don’t do that we will all end up in that abyss that might make the right dystopian abyss.”

Barghouti also spoke about the power of collective action and how that is being showcased in the current fuel protests in the city center.

“It’s very good that they are protesting because oil prices are going through the roof but it also reflects that this neoliberal government in Ireland has failed to address the cost of living crisis, the housing crisis, the health and education crisis,” he said. “The Irish government, the neoliberal government, is totally beholden to a few American companies that control most of the Irish economy. The Irish government is not listening to its people, not just about Palestine but about everything.”

“They want to suck more money out of the social system to feed the US army,” he continued. “That will come out of your schools and infrastructure and I really hope that many people, collectively, will fight against this militarization for the good of Ireland and for the good of Palestinians , for the good of the world. “

Representing the cultural boycott on the panel, Sally Rooney discussed Mary Manning's refusal to handle South African produce as a protest against apartheid. Rooney also shared her personal experience of taking a stand, specifically her decision to withhold the translation rights for her third novel from Israeli publishing houses.

Because her support for Palestine Action, which the UK government considers a proscribed group, has led to warnings about potential arrest under the UK's Terrorism Act, she is currently avoiding public engagements in the UK to prevent possible prosecution.

“I think the lesson of the cultural boycott is that when we do speak out there is one word we should treasure above all others and that word is the word no. because that is where our speech meets action. No i will not sign that contract, no i will not accept that invitation, no i wont accept to do what i know is wrong.

BDS Super panel at Teachers Club on April 9, 2026. Copyright hotpress.com

The event featured a surprise appearance by Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne. Byrne was recently removed as a director of Drogheda United F.C. by the club's US-based owner after publicly opposing the Republic of Ireland playing Israel in the UEFA Nations League.

She received two standing ovations as she spoke with vulnerability about being ousted from the club and penalized for her political stance. Byrne emphasized the inseparable nature of politics and sports, arguing that despite the consequences of what happened to her for speaking out, she would do it again.

BDS Super panel at Teachers Club on April 9, 2026. Copyright hotpress.com

The event also featured Paul Gavan from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions who addressed the labour movement’s role. Niamh NÍ Bhriain (TNI/Neutrality Now) who spoke of Ireland role militarism, specifically regarding Shannon Airport. Éamonn Meehan, Chair of Sadaka, tackled the issue of state Sanctions and the proposed Occupied Territories Bill. Dr. John Reynolds from Maynooth University spoke of the role of an academic boycott.

The event was backed by the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and the Trade Union Friends of Palestine group, and featured speakers addressing boycott, sanctions, and militarism.

 

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