Hollywood couple join County Roscommon campaign against war in Gaza
Hollywood actor Chris O'Dowd and his wife Dawn O'Porter pictured supporting the Boyle Palestine Solidarity Group's weekly demonstration. Pic. Brian Farrell
Hollywood star Chris O'Dowd and his wife Dawn O'Porter joined the Boyle Palestine Solidarity Group's weekly demonstration in Boyle on Friday.
O'Dowd returned to his native Boyle to officially open the Boyle Arts Festival and the couple took the opportunity to show their support for the local campaign attempting to highlight the suffering of the people in Gaza.
Every Friday a group of people make a stand for Gaza on the bridge over the N4 in Boyle.
The local woman who is the driving force behind the Boyle “bridgil” said it was intended as “a reminder to us , as we go about our busy lives, that unbelievable atrocities are still taking place on a daily basis”.
Mary Gallagher said she could not “just sit at home doing nothing” while the list of people killed and injured continues to grow.
Describing herself as a reluctant leader who “never put myself out there before” the Boyle woman said she felt so strongly about what is happening in Gaza that she had to do something.
“Each week the list of killed and injured increases”, she said. “The number of children orphaned and parents facing life without their children increases.
“There are countless people including children trapped under rubble with no hope of being rescued.”
Fiona Keenan , one of the regular attenders at the Boyle bridgil, also recognises that individuals may feel powerless but she too thinks it is important to make a stand.
“Israel’s actions in Palestine have been nothing short of genocide," she said. “Individually, we might not make a difference, but through discussion and presence, more people might come on board - there’s power in the collective”.
Another local woman , Melbourne-based television producer and musician Maggie Carty, who is home on holidays, recently joined the show of solidarity.
Bridgils (vigils over bridges) have been taking place all over the country as people try to highlight the ongoing suffering in Gaza.
Mary Gallagher said anyone was welcome “who feels the same horror at the pain and suffering of fellow humans and the inadequacy we feel as we watch the senseless violence live streamed to our phones”.
The Boyle bridgil takes place on the bridge over the N4 (Abbeytown to Rockingham) from 5.30pm to 6.30pm on Friday evenings.
