The Dublin ladies footballers lost their opening tie in the Lidl Ladies National Football League tonight to Kerry at Parnell Park, but the match will be remembered for what happened before throw-in.
During the national anthem, members of the Dublin team held aloft a banner that read 'SOS COGAIDH SA PHALAISTÍN', or Ceasefire in Palestine.
After the match, the Dublin team and management released a statement explaining their motivation behind the banner.
Dublin ladies call for 'immediate ceasefire'
In the statement, the Dublin team said they were 'greatly disturbed and saddened' by the war in Gaza.
We, members of the Dublin Senior Ladies Football Team and Management feel strongly about taking a stand on the issue of an Immediate Ceasefire in Palestine.
As we have watch events unfold in the region on our screens every day for the past 106 days, we have been greatly disturbed and saddened. Almost 25,000 lives have been lost, 70% of whom are women, children and young adolescents, while more than 20,000 babies have been born into a living hell. A staggering 85% of the population have now been displaced while all the hospitals have been destroyed in Gaza.
We are privileged to represent this great city of Dublin, however with that great privilege comes a great responsibility to do the right thing. We want our voices to be heard. So, we are taking this opportunity to plead with the key influencers and decision makers. Please do all in your power to help bring a ceasefire and end to hostilities in the Gaza region.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
Speaking to FM 104 after the game, Dublin manager Mick Bohan confirmed that the decision to hold the banner had been taken during the week by the team. He also described it as an 'apolitical statement.'
"It's matter of not remaining silent because that's when you become part of the problem. In fairness to the group, they decided they wanted to make a statement to sportspeople. Obviously women and children are the most inflicted in Palestine, so rather than staying silent ... and obviously it's an apolitical statement but it's a human rights issue."
Dublin manager Mick Bohan spoke about the display of a, "Sos Cogadh sa Phalastín" banner before this evening's Lidl League defeat to Kerry at Parnell Park @Sport4Palestine pic.twitter.com/ZFVzLFTMUZ
— FM104 (@FM104) January 20, 2024
As the hugely depressing conflict enters its third month, tonight's gesture and statement from the Dublin ladies team represents the most overt act of solidarity from an Irish sports team towards the people of Palestine. It must be said also that a number of male Dublin footballers past and present attended last Saturday's protest in the capital, as they have for every protest in Dublin since the war began.
Speaking to Balls at last week's protest, boxer Tyrone McKenna said Irish sporting bodies should boycott Israel just as Russia and Belarus were boycotted after the invasion of Ukraine.
At Saturday's march for Palestine in Dublin, Irish boxer Tyrone McKenna called on Irish sporting bodies to boycott games and competitions involving Israeli opposition. pic.twitter.com/Lt7QC2tUBO
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) January 14, 2024
The Ireland women's basketball team will host Israel in an upcoming basketball international and there have been calls for Basketball Ireland to boycott the fixture.
