Archive for the ‘South African Racist Rugby Tour of Ireland 1970’ Category
Should Robbie Keane reconsider going to Israeli Football Club Maccabi Tel Aviv?
The author of this article is Zoe Lawlor. Many thanks to Seán Marmion for bringing it to our attention.
Should Robbie Keane reconsider going to Israeli Football Club Maccabi Tel Aviv?
When Robbie Keane was asked about his move to manage Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv, he said he
didn’t want to “get into politics”, but taking up a role in what has been declared apartheid is
inherently political.
The Gaza Kids to Ireland project was launched officially by Brian Kerr in late 2014. The boys, coach
and chairman of Al Helal Football Academy, Gaza City finally made it to Ireland in 2016.
The logistics of trying to get out of Gaza are very complicated. The group needed Irish visas, permits
for Jordan and most problematic – permits to leave Gaza by Israel. Palestinians are the only people
who need permission to leave their country. Israel controls most aspects of life for the Palestinians
in Gaza, and it controls whether they can leave or enter the Strip.
The visa/permits process took months. Eventually the permits were granted but one player from the
15 – Karam Zedan wasn’t given a permit and neither were 5 of the adults due to travel, including the
only woman. The cruelty of Israel denying one child from 15 the opportunity to travel to Ireland
bears further consideration. Imagine how a 13-year-old boy must have felt seeing his friends and
teammates going on a big adventure that they had been preparing for together for months. Karam
was injured by the 2009 Israeli attack on Gaza and it’s likely they didn’t want him as living evidence
of their war crimes.
They played football against Ballybrack FC, Kinvara United, Nenagh AFC, Nenagh Celtic and Pike
Rovers. They played on pitches, beaches and in parks. A highlight was their game in Ballybrack where
the Palestinian community came out in numbers and reacted as if they had won the World Cup.
They formed the guard of honour for Galway United versus Dundalk, played at half time to the
delight and cheers of the Palestinian flag waving GUFC ultras. They met with President Michael D
Higgins at this game in Galway United. The League of Ireland was very supportive of the children’s
visit.
In 2017 the Al Helal team were guard of honour for the Shamrock Rovers V Derry City game.
President Michael D Higgins came to Tallaght that evening, for his first visit, especially to meet them.
He made a speech and took loads of photos with the children. It was a serious act of solidarity from
our President.
Desmond Tutu, South Africa, Apartheid, Israel – An unpublished letter to the Irish Times
An unpublished Irish Times Letter : Desmond Tutu, South Africa, Apartheid, Israel – the author is Betty Purcell :
Read the rest of this entry »“Dear Editor,
It was with the deepest sadness, that I learnt of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, (South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu dies age 90, IT December 26th )this week. He was indeed a moral giant, an unequivocal fighter for human rights, a compassionate and funny individual, who used his voice so articulately, for the betterment of humanity.
I had the honour of meeting him twice; once while filming on the subject of human rights in South Africa, and once here in Ireland, when he came to speak for Afri, the small Irish Justice campaign of which he was a sponsor. He was passionate and informed on so many issues, and eloquently argued the rights based approach.
Pat O’Connor 1948-2015, Limerick Socialist, Supporter of the Fourth International
Recently, following prompts by Pádraig Malone, I forwarded material celebrating the life and political activities of the late Pat O’Connor to the Irish Left Archive site.
A 21 year old Pat O’Connor is holding the placard saying “PD [People’s Democracy] Opposes Racism”. 1970 demonstrations against the touring South African
All-White Rugby Team.
John Meehan December 7 2020
Tomás Ó Flatharta 