Good turnout for annual NYE Palestine vigil in Waterford
A vigil in solidarity with Palestine has happened in Waterford every New Year's Eve since 2005.
Over 50 people showed up to express their solidarity with Palestinians in Waterford today.
The New Year’s Eve vigil for Palestine has been an annual tradition in Waterford since 2005.
Many people who cannot find the time during the year to attend solidarity events, make it their business to gather at the New Year's Eve vigil.
Majdi, a Palestinian man who has been living in Waterford for the past year, told the Waterford News & Star: "It feels amazing to see all of this solidarity here in Waterford. It's been a very positive experience for me being in Waterford and learning from the Irish people about unity."
Majidi was at the vigil with his friend Aga Cummins.
They met at an anti-Eurovision party in Downes's pub last year when the group boycotted the television show due to Israel's participation.
Aga is originally from Poland but has been living in Ireland for 21. She told the Waterford News & Star: “I’m here to shout for Palestine. There’s no ceasefire, it's just an illusion.”
Speaking to Palestinians in Ireland and in Palestine, Aga said: “We got your back, lads.”
She advised that people who want to start boycotting companies that operate illegally in the West Bank or that aid the Israeli military but don’t know where to start can download the app ‘Boycat’ or ‘NoThanks’.
With these apps, you can scan the barcodes of products to check if they are on the boycott list.
David Rhys, director of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, attended the vigil. He told the Waterford News & Star: “It's become a regular occurrence across towns and cities in Ireland to meet on New Year’s Eve.”
He explained that the group was expecting more people than usual at the vigil because “people are realising that the ceasefire doesn’t actually exist.”
SETU students and twins, Bláithnid and Síofra Tobin, held a banner encouraging motorists to support the BDS movement. The sign read: "Boycott, Divest, Sanction."
Bláthnid told the Waterford News & Star that she showed up to the New Year’s Eve vigil because “I hate seeing people get hurt”.
Síofra added: “It’s the human thing to do.”
The two were inspired to become activists when they met some of the Irish people who were taken hostage by Israel in the flotilla earlier this year at the airport.
“Since then we’ve been trying our best to come out even more.”
Mary Lyng, chairperson of the South-East branch of the IPSC, said: “The Irish people are stalwarts in supporting the cause of Palestine.
She told the Waterford News & Star that her group is calling on governments, local, national, and European, to “cease trade agreements with Israel”.
She also said, “We are calling on the Irish government to stop using Shannon and other airports to transport weapons of mass destruction to Gaza and the West Bank.”
In 2026, the South-East branch of the IPSC will continue to hold weekly vigils in SETU and monthly marches through Waterford City.
