Gardaí preparing for thousands at pro-Palestinian and far-right rallies in Cork
It is understood that gardaí are preparing for a crowd of between 8,000 to 10,000 people.
A pro-Palestine march and what's being billed as a "national protest for Ireland", organised by anti-immigration campaigners and far-right agitators, are set to take place in the city at around the same time on Saturday afternoon.
A Munster–wide rally and march for Palestine is set to start at 1pm on the Grand Parade.
There has been a march for Palestine through Cork City every Saturday since the war in Gaza started.
On Saturday, members of the public and Palestinian solidarity groups from across Cork, Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary will converge on the city for what could be one of the largest rallies to date.
They will gather afterwards on the Grand Parade where speakers will call on the Irish Government to place sanctions on Israel, to stop the Central Bank from authorising the sale of Israeli bonds in Europe, and to pass a strong Occupied Territories Bill.
Anti-immigration
At around the same time, several leading anti-immigration activists and far-right agitators are also set to gather on the Grand Parade for what they've called a "national protest for Ireland".
Several thousand people marched in a similar rally in Dublin last month.
The former Ireland First leader and failed European and general election candidate Derek Blighe is among the main organisers of the Cork event.
Participants will then move from the Grand Parade and march to City Hall, where speakers are expected to criticise the Government and the media on a range of issues — including immigration, housing, and health.
In a statement on Friday, gardaí said they are aware of and prepared for both events.
'Ireland operates as a constitutional democracy, ensuring that citizens have the right to express their beliefs and opinions freely, as well as to gather peacefully, in accordance with legal provisions,' a spokesperson said.
To manage public gatherings effectively, An Garda Síochána employs appropriate and proportionate policing measures, enabling citizens to exercise their rights while maintaining public order
'In response to evolving events, An Garda Síochána follows a community policing model, adopting a graduated approach that aligns with relevant legislation and prioritises public safety.'
The Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign says it has organised online training with up to 50 stewards to 'protect their movement, space, and community', and that they have had extensive contact with gardaí on logistics.
Traffic disruption is expected in the city centre island area around lunchtime, and could last for over an hour.
Read More
Trinity college board votes to cut ties with Israeli universities and companies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
13 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
ieExplains: Who is new Garda commissioner Justin Kelly?
From September, a new man will be in charge of An Garda Síochána. Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan announced on Tuesday that Justin Kelly will be replacing Drew Harris as Garda commissioner. Here, we look at who Mr Kelly is, and what his career path has been to date. Where is Justin Kelly from? Mr Kelly is a native of Dublin. How long has Justin Kelly been a garda? Mr Kelly first joined the gardaí in 1992. From then up until 2017, he held a number of ranks including garda, sergeant, and inspector. He served as a frontline inspector in Blanchardstown and Clondalkin. In 2001, he was seconded to work for the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he worked monitoring and building the capacity of local law enforcement. In 2017, he was appointed as a detective superintendent in the Garda National Protective Services Bureau. His work there led to an appointment as detective chief superintendent in the Special Detective Unit in 2020. There, he was tasked with leading the Operational Counter-Terrorism Unit. When was Justin Kelly appointed as assistant commissioner? From May 2022 to October 2024, Mr Kelly served as the assistant commissioner in charge of Serious and Organised Crime. In his role, he was responsible for the national units and investigations into drugs and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. Mr Kelly was appointed deputy commissioner for Security, Strategy and Governance in October 2024. What about his education and qualifications? Mr Kelly has a bachelor's in civil law from UCD, a master of criminal justice from John Jay College in New York, a master of business administration from DCU, a master of serious crime investigation from the University of Limerick and has completed a strategic command course at the College of Policing, UK. What will his new salary be? The salary for the Garda commissioner role is currently €314,512. The Department of Justice says this reflects "the size and unique complexity of leading An Garda Síochána, which is a very large policing service with over 18,000 employees, and includes lead responsibility for the security of the State". When will he start as Garda commissioner? Mr Kelly will take up the new role on September 1, with Mr Harris remaining as commissioner until that date. He is eligible to serve a five-year term, or until reaching the retirement age of 62. There is provision in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024, for an extension of up to two further years, subject to Government approval. Read More Justin Kelly to succeed Drew Harris as new Garda Commissioner
Sunday World
an hour ago
- Sunday World
New Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly announced to replace Drew Harris
Current commissioner is expected to serve his term until September before retiring The Government has appointed Justin Kelly to the post of Garda Commissioner, replacing Drew Harris, who will retire later this year. The role, with a salary of at least €314,000, will see the new commissioner appointed to a five-year term or until the retirement age of 62. He will lead a total workforce of nearly 18,000 people, comprising sworn gardaí, garda staff and reserve gardaí. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said: 'I am very pleased that the Government has today accepted my recommendation to appoint Justin Kelly, who is currently serving as Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance, as Commissioner of An Garda Síochána following an open competition conducted by public jobs. "The role of Garda Commissioner is one of the most challenging and impactful leadership positions in Ireland's public service and the appointment process was suitably rigorous. 'I am satisfied that Justin Kelly is both qualified and particularly well suited to the role of Commissioner given his extensive leadership experience over the last 30 years in some of the most challenging issues facing An Garda Síochána including national security, domestic and sexual violence, and organised crime. "I know Justin is fully committed to providing a high visibility, highly trusted policing service to the public in keeping with the Garda mission of Keeping People Safe.' Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Photo: PA Mr Kelly has 31 years' service in An Garda Síochána. He was employed as a police officer in 1992 before rising through the ranks to detective, detective superintendent, detective chief superintendent and assistant commissioner. Previously, as assistant commissioner of serious and organised crime, he was responsible for leading the national policing response in areas of drugs and organised crime, cyber crime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. He was appointed Deputy Commissioner, Security, Strategy and Governance last October. Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Israeli settler kills Palestinian teacher and activist linked to Oscar-Winning film in West Bank
ODEH HADALIN, A Palestinian teacher who was part of the crew on the Academy Award-winning documentary No Other Land, was shot dead by an Israeli settler on Monday, the film's co-directors have said. Hadalin was an activist from Masafer Yatta, a collection of hamlets located on the hills south of Hebron, which have been declared a military zone by Israel. Hadalin and other activists' efforts to prevent Israeli forces and settlers from destroying their homes was the subject of the 2024 documentary No Other Land, which won Best Documentary at the Oscars in March. He was a teaching staff member at al-Saray'a Secondary School in Masafer Yatta, and was a father of three children, the eldest of whom is 6 years old. The 31-year-old 'was shot dead by settlers… during their attack on the village of Umm al-Khair' near Hebron, the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Education wrote on social media late on Monday. No Other Land co-director Yuval Abraham confirmed the news in a post online, stating: 'An Israeli settler just shot Odeh Hadalin in the lungs.' Abraham described Hadalin as 'a remarkable activist who helped us film No Other Land'. Palestinian journalist and activist Mohammad Hesham Huraini said that Hadalin 'has now been made martyr by the hands of a violent settler.' The attacker was identified by Israeli and Palestinian journalists as Yinon Levi, an extremist settler formerly sanctioned by the US under the Biden administration, and still sanctioned by Canada, the UK, and the European Union. In video footage from the scene of the confrontation, Levi can be seen holding a handgun and firing into the air. A bulldozer is visible in the frame behind him. Advertisement An Israeli settler just shot Odeh Hadalin in the lungs, a remarkable activist who helped us film No Other Land in Masafer Yatta. Residents identified Yinon Levi, sanctioned by the EU and US, as the shooter. This is him in the video firing like crazy. — Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) July 28, 2025 Huraini said that shortly after the fatal shooting, another man tried to block the bulldozer before Levi 'ran him over' and injured him. He added that several Palestinians were then taken by Israeli police 'under false arrest charges'. In a statement, Israeli police said they were investigating the incident, and that an Israeli citizen involved in the shooting had been detained at the scene and later arrested. The police did not identify the detained Israeli, although Haaretz reported that it was Levi. Four Palestinians were also detained by the Israel Defense Forces, as well as two foreign tourists, police said. Israeli news site Ynet reported that Levi was in the area carrying out construction on a new neighborhood in Carmel, and in Levi's account of the incident, he alleged that dozens of rioters from nearby Umm al-Khair threw stones at him and several other Israelis. He claimed that he opened fire on the Palestinians because he felt his life was in danger, Ynet reported. These circumstances were disputed by locals, Palestinian news sources and Haaretz, which reported that Levi's bulldozer had encroached on privately owned land of Umm al-Khair. Need more information on what is happening in Israel and Palestine? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to navigating the news online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
