All events take place today at the Maldron Hotel, Shandon.
10:00 a.m. The Big Meeting. A documentary about the annual Durham Miners’ Gala, the largest trade union and community gathering in the UK. Directed by Daniel Draper.
11:30 a.m. Bernardo Guanche Hernandez, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Ireland. Life in Cuba
1: 00 p.m. Club Ceoil Ballyphehane Ballad Group.
2:15 p.m. Grace O’ Sullivan. “Taking Action for the Planet: Life on the High Seas”. In memory of Fernando Pereira (1950-1985)
3:45 p.m. Tadhg Hickey: Writer, film maker, comedian and political activist.
5: 00 p.m. GAZA (2019):
A film by Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell. Portrait of a people and a place prior to the Genocide.
7:30 p.m. “This Land is Our Land: Confronting Extremism and Reclaiming Democracy” Panel discussion: speakers, John Donoghue, Associate Professor of History, Loyola University, Chicago Gema Kloppe-Santamaria, Lecturer, School of Society, Politics and Ethics, UCC. Tom Boland, Lecturer in Sociology in UCC. Moderator: John Barimo.
9:30 p.m. John Nyhan and Friends David King and Friends: Songs of Struggle, Songs of Hope.
Children of GazaArctic SunriseGemma Kloppe-SantamariaGrace O’SullivanJohn DonoghueTadhg HickeyTom BolandClub Ceoil BallyphehaneJohn Nyhan and James NolanDavid King and FriendsCuban Ambassador to Ireland, Bernardo Guanche HernandezDurham Miners Gala
A film by Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell. 90 mins long. Released 2019.
This powerful film shows a world which was seldom seen and which following the genocide does not exist now, it is a place of rubble. Gaza is a coastal strip along the Mediterranean which measures twenty five miles long by 6/7 miles wide. In 2019 it was home to nearly two million people.
Gaza
Following the attack by Hamas in October 2023, in which 1200 Israelis and foreign workers were killed, the subsequent relentless and brutal Israeli government attacks on Gazan civilians has claimed the lives of at least 75,000 of its children, women and men who have been killed amidst the silence from many politicians in Europe, who look the other way in spite of the objections of their own people and in spite of the Israeli attacks being described as genocide by the United Nations.
Directors, Keane and McConnell and their team have bequeathed the world a portrait of a unique place, everyday scenes with a vibrant community and people which has been largely obliterated. In spite of ongoing Israeli bombs landing in the busy streets, background images of Hamas and mass attacks on the border fences, the everyday “normal” lives of normal people continue to play out with their hopes and dreams. Their resilience, their humour, courage and compassion in attempting to survive the violence and do normal things has been captured for posterity in GAZA.
As one Gazan says “We simply want to live”.
The film allows Karma Khaial, a young 19 year old student, to tell us about her dreams of playing the cello and studying for a Masters in International Law in an uncertain world. Or Ahmed Abu Alqoraan who has a dream to own a big fishing boat and crew it with his many brothers and sisters to provide an income from his “catch” for his very large family. The reality he faced was the petty three mile fishing restriction imposed by the Israelis.
Gazan children.
GAZA allows the people to speak openly for themselves as they live day to day. By observing and listening to the mundane living of life, the viewer develops an empathy and appreciation for the decent people surviving in a land steeped in tragedy, bound by history and plagued by conflict over which they have no control. Yet one remembers the smiles, the banter, the brief everyday joys, the hopes and dream of the people and wonder how Karma and Ahmed and their neighbours, families and friends are today. This GAZA documentary remains as visual evidence of the genocide which is taking place.
GAZA will be shown on Friday evening 24th July at 5:00 pm.
Tadhg Hickey will appear at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival on Friday 24th July at 3.45 pm.
Tadhg Hickey. Photo courtesy of Tadhg Hickey.
He will discuss his experiences on the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza last year
Born in Cork, Tadhg Hickey is a comedian, filmmaker, writer and political activist. He has had a long standing interest and commitment to the Palestinian people and during the coronavirus period in 2021 he created a fundraiser for the Aida Palestinian Refugee Camp which raised over 32 thousand euro.
In 2025, Tadhg participated in the Global Sumud Flotilla which attempted to reach Gaza then as now blockaded by Israel. He was arrested and detained by the Israeli authorities when their boat was boarded.
He continues to challenge the hypocrisy of the West towards the Middle East through his comedy performances and in the release of short videos which forces one to question the accepted Western perspectives of the struggles of people who are not white.
His biting political satire has amassed 100 million views and a global social media following. He wrote ‘The School’ for RTE and has toured extensively throughout Britain and Ireland. Currently his searing satire show NOOW written and performed with Nicole Jones is now out.
Tadhg will speak at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival on Friday 24th July 2026 at 3.45 pm.
