(English Language Version Below)
Chruinnigh foireann agus cairde Gael Linn le chéile le fáilte a chur roimh Ambasadóir na Palaistíne, Dr Wahba Abdalmajid, agus í ar cuairt chuig oifigí na heagraíochta ar Shráid an Dáma, Baile ÁthCliath. Tharla an ócáid ar lá cinniúnach do mhuintir Gaza agus é fógraithe goraibh glactha leis an chéad chuid de phlean síochána. Chuir an tAmbasadóir fáilte roimh an nuacht go bhfuil an chuma ag teacht ar chúrsaí go mbeidh comhaontú ar shos comhraic agus céimeanna glactha i dtreo síochána. Dúirt Dr Wahba Abdalmajid, go raibh Muintir na Palaistíne i dteideal dóchas éigin a bheith acu i ndiaidh ar mhair siad fríd le dhá bhliain anuas ach go háirithe. Mhínigh sí gur spreag radharcanna na bpáistí beaga ag rince ar na sráideanna i nGaza an mhaidin sin a croí.
Bhí téama an chneasaithe agus an gá le síocháin do chách go mór chun tosaigh san imeacht. Luaigh An tAmbasadóir fosta an grá atá aici do chultúr na hÉireann; don cheol, don rince agus don teanga. Mar chuid den ócáid bhí ceol, dánta agus amhráin. ‘Cúis ár linne í cúis shaoránaigh na Palaistíne agus muintir Gaza agus an daonnacht í féin sa mheá,’ a dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Gael Linn, Réamonn Ó Ciaráin.
Bhronn Anne Hart píosa ealaíne ó scuab an ealaíontóra chlúitigh Dara Vallely ar an ambasadóir mar chuid den ócáid. Tugadh ardmholadh do Dermot Kelly, ó Áth an Mhuilinn, Co. Ard Mhacha, a bhí sa chuideachta, as a raibh déanta aige ar son mhuintir na Palaistíne ó go luath sna 1970í.
Ar na hoirfidigh abhí páirteach bhí; JJ Ó Dochartaigh ón rap-ghrúpa Kneecap a sheol físteachtaireacht ag cur grá chuig muintir na Palaistíne. Léigh Antaine Ó Donnaile dán dá chuid le haistriúcháin i mBéarla agus san Araibis ar an scáileán. Chan Étáin Ní Churraoin ó An Chéad Ghlúin Eile, Ian Mac Gabhann (Gael Linn) agus Ciara Bhreathnach agus Evan Ó Gríofa amhráin chumhachtacha a spreag croíthe. Rinne Faye Ní Raghallaigh (Gael Linn) agus Réamonn Ó Ciaráin cur i láthair fileata ar an chlaontacht mhíchothrom a bhain le cuid mhór de na meáin idirnáisiúnta maidir le tuairisciú ar an chinedhíothú i nGaza.
Chuir bia na Palaistíne ó Shaku Maku go mór leis an ócáid.
Tomás Ó Cadhla (GaelLinn) a bhí ina fhear tí agus ghabh sé buíochas le gach duine, ‘Beidh cuimhne againn ar an ócáid chumhachtach seo go ceann i bhfad agus é ag titim amach ar lá stairiúil don Phalaistín. Tá muid ag súil go dtiocfadh síocháin agus cothromas do mhuintir na Palaistíne anois.’
Agus í ag gabháil buíochas le Gael Linn as an ócáid a reáchtáil, d’aithin an tAmbasadóir gur na daoine i gcumhacht a ghlac leis an phlean síochána do Gaza ar deireadh ach bhí sí go mór den bharúil go raibh guthanna na milliún thart ar an domhan, anseo in Éirinn, agus ag ócáidí mar seo taobh thiar den chinneadh fosta.’
Grianghraif: James Mone
Palestinian Ambassador welcomed by Gael Linn on momentous day
Gael Linn staff and friends gathered to welcome the Palestinian Ambassador, Dr Wahba Abdalmajid, as she visited the organisation’s offices on Dame Street, Dublin. The event came on a momentous day for the people of Gaza following the announcement that the first part of a peace plan for Gaza had been accepted. The ambassador welcomed the agreement saying, ‘The Palestinian people were entitled to some hope after what they had endured over the past two years in particular. The sight of young children dancing in the streets of Gaza following the announcement of the peace plan touched my heart.’
The theme of healing and the need for peace for all was prominent during the event. Ambassador Wahba Abdalmajid also spoke of her love for Irish culture; music, dance and language. The event included music, poetry and songs. Gael Linn Chief Executive, Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, said, ‘The cause of Palestinians and the people of Gaza is the cause of our time with humanity itself at stake.'
Anne Hart presented the ambassador with a piece of art painted by renowned artist Dara Vallely. Dermot Kelly, from Milford, Co. Armagh, who was also a special guest, was highly commended for his work on behalf of the Palestinian people since the early 1970s.
Among the performers taking part were; JJ Ó Dochartaigh from the rap group Kneecap, who sent his love and support to the people in Palestine via video message. Antaine Ó Donnaile read one of his poems in Irish with on screen translations to English and Arabic. Étáin Ní Churraoin from An Chéad Ghlúin Eile, Ian Mac Gabhann (Gael Linn) and Ciara Bhreathnach and Evan Ó Gríofa sang a beautiful selection of songs. Faye Ní Raghallaigh (Gael Linn) and Réamonn Ó Ciaráin gave a poetic response to an unbalanced bias on the part of much of the international media in reporting the genocide in Gaza.
The Palestinian fare from Shaku Maku added greatly to the event.
TomásÓ Cadhla (Gael Linn) was the host for the event and thanked everyone saying, ‘We will remember this powerful event for a long time to come on this historic day which we all hope will bring a lasting and just peace to Gaza.’
In thanking Gael Linn for hosting the event, the Ambassador said, ‘While the decision to agree to the plan for peace in Gaza was made by those in power, the voices of millions around the world, in Ireland, and at events like this here were part of the decision-making.’
Photographs: James Mone