Irish Examiner view: Irish know all too well of Gazan plight

Irish Examiner

20-05-2025

We here in Ireland know a thing or two about famines. It strikes a bitter chord deep within the Irish psyche when we hear of peoples anywhere in our world who are being forcibly cornered into starvation for the political means of others.
President Michael D Higgins, as he has done so often during his two terms in office, was unequivocal in his address to the National Famine Commemoration in Kilmallock at the weekend when asserting that the Gazan people were being subjected to 'forced starvation'.
His powerful address implicated Israel as using 'starvation as an instrument of war', which will hardly curry any favour for Ireland in Tel Aviv — where our nation's correct views of Israel's murderous campaign in Gaza has led to distinct diplomatic chills.
'As aid dries up, the floodgates of horror have reopened,' the President said. 'Gaza is a killing field — and civilians are in an endless death loop.'
The worldwide repulsion at what has gone on throughout the Gaza Strip since Israel retaliated against the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has been widespread and vocal.
This has not stopped Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies in the Knesset inflicting death, starvation, and destruction on the populace — as well as journalists recording it and aid workers trying to limit the human toll.
The decision yesterday to allow limited aid into Gaza, under pressure from its allies, will mean little unless Hamas frees the remaining Israeli hostages it is holding and stops the carnage. Netanyahu is intent on crushing Hamas, with no regard for the cost in civilian lives.
The Great Famine may have shaped the Irish people, but what's happening in Gaza must harden worldwide attitudes towards Israel. Netanyahu must end the wanton killing and should be told to do so, in no uncertain terms, by the leaders of countries who should see this "war" for what it is: Genocide.
Tight elections make left sweat
It seems these days that whenever an election is called in any European country, there are widespread — and sometimes justified — fears of a right-wing swing.
So it was in Romania, Poland, and Portugal the weekend just past, where there were two presidential elections and a snap general election — in each of which there were genuine concerns that the far right could make substantial gains.
The debated and legally convoluted presidential contest in Romania was narrowly shaded by the centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, who overcame the challenge of ultra-nationalist George Simion in what was described as a battle between 'a pro-Western and an anti-Western Romania'.
Staunchly pro-Western and pro-EU, Dan had lost heavily to Simion in the first round of voting, sparking fears in Brussels and further afield that the Trumpist, anti-EU candidate — who vowed to cease support for Ukraine — would take power.
A strong second round for Dan saw him past the post first, sparking relief across the EU. Voting deprived Hungary's Victor Orban and Slovakia's Robert Fico of a new ally in their opposition to supporting Ukraine in its war against Moscow.
In Poland, the future of the country is up for grabs after a nail biter of a presidential election between pro-European centrist Rafal Trzaskowski and populist right-winger Karol Nawrocki. The decision will go to a run-off vote on June 1.
The closeness of the vote — 31.36% against 29.53% — prompted prime minister Donald Tusk to say the run-off would 'decide the future of Poland' and, indeed, a win for Trzaskowski will end the lengthy stand off between Tusk's government and the incumbent populist-right president, Andrzej Duda — who has used his veto to stymie to repeatedly block the Tusk administration's attempts at reform.
The campaign is expected to be polarising — a confrontation between two visions: One pro-EU, liberal, and progressive; the other conservative, nationalistic, and Trumpist.
The incumbent centre-right Democratic Alliance in Portugal emerged on top after the weekend's general election. While the underperforming socialists were left vying for second place, the far-right Chega party took a record 22% of the vote. These results in part defied expectations, but once more signalled that Europe's right wing still has a long road to travel for widespread acceptance.
Stifled support
While last Friday night's all or nothing URC clash against Benetton Treviso demonstrated once again Munster's ability to back themselves out of a tight corner, it also illustrated the hunger among Cork fans for more top-line rugby matches.
Unfortunately for most Cork rugby supporters, in recent years they have been offered little other than the occasional crumb of unattractive league fixtures or non-competitive games against touring sides to quell their hunger for high-profile fixtures.
The fevered atmosphere in Cork on Friday evening demonstrated once more that the fans, if offered a seriously competitive fixture, will react with positivity and fervour. That only 8,800 were able to attend — because of the venue's capacity — was a travesty in itself.
It is notable that in Leinster, when the opportunity to play matches in front of huge crowds is presented, the province moves those fixtures to Croke Park and its 86,000 capacity. The annual fixture against Munster at Christmas there drew a full house and millions of euro in profit.
Connacht also recently ventured to Hyde Park in Castlebar for a hugely successful and sold-out game — against Munster — which saw them venture into the province's GAA heartland for the very first time.
Cork fans clearly demonstrated their desire to see big-time games on Friday night, but sadly, all too few of them are currently accommodated. Surely, it need not always be that way.
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