The Drogheda Stands With Palestine (DSWP) community has been holding weekly solidarity gatherings at the steps of St. Peter’s Church on West Street every Saturday at 12 noon since October 2023.
The group, a non-political humanitarian community, aims to raise awareness of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
DSWP is made up of local people from various backgrounds, including teachers, students, and pensioners.
They create awareness by flying flags, displaying signs, singing, and engaging in conversation.
Beyond their weekly gatherings, DSWP organises and participates in events to raise both awareness and vital funds for relief charities in Gaza.
These events have included sea swims, yoga mornings, sponsored walks, and music concerts, which have raised nearly €30,000 for Palestinian aid over the last 18 months.
The group organised a petition on West Street in February to urge the government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill. In just three hours, they collected over 1,000 signatures from the people of Drogheda.
A spokesperson for the group stated, “The Irish government has already called what is happening in Gaza a genocide and is one of the few countries in the world to officially recognise the state of Palestine but we need to keep talking about Gaza.”
