Palestine supporters to hold St Patrick’s Day wreath-laying ceremony

STRABANE Are Palestine (SAP) will hold their latest protest against the ongoing war in Gaza on St Patrick’s Day (Sunday) in a vigil in Strabane town centre.

The local collective are encouraging locals who are against the ongoing conflict to join a wreath-laying ceremony at the 1916 memorial stone in Upper Main Street at midday on Sunday to commemorate the 30,000-plus victims of the conflict which has been aging since October 7 last year.

A spokesperson for the collective said, “We are laying a wreath to remember the dead of the ongoing US-backed Israeli genocide against the people of Palestine.

“We chose St Patrick’s Day in a nod to the Irish diaspora throughout the world, a lot of whom are descendants of those born here who had to move due to social, economic, and political reasons or, tragically, due to the genocide committed by the British during the famine years of 1845 to 1852.

“These are only some of the many reasons why the Irish associate themselves with the plight of the Palestinians and why we believe St Patrick’s Day is an appropriate day to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Palestine. Music on the day will be provided by Brendan ‘Bacon’ Gallagher and Feargháíl MacLiochlann. We would urge everyone to come along and show their support.”

SAP recently undertook a fundraising campaign in Strabane, raising £595 for Palestine Aid through donations collected from different bars and a number of shops in the town. The collective would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who gave generously for the cause.