Current Tyrone manager and ex-Fermanagh boss Malachy O’Rourke has pledged his support to the group, as well as outgoing Erne manager Kieran Donnelly and former county stars like Sean Quigley and Shane McDermott
A new grassroots movement, ‘Fermanagh Gaels Against Genocide’, is organising a solidarity walk on Sunday, 19 October, from Lissan to Brewster Park, Enniskillen, in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The group has been formed by members of the GAA from across the county, who are deeply troubled by the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have been killed and injured, the ongoing starvation and the destruction of essential infrastructure, including schools and hospitals.
Current Tyrone manager and ex-Fermanagh boss Malachy O’Rourke has pledged his support to the group with a Facebook video, as well as outgoing Erne manager Kieran Donnelly and former county stars like Sean Quigley and Shane McDermott.
“What is happening in Gaza is not only a tragedy, it is a moral and humanitarian catastrophe that we cannot ignore,” said spokesperson for the group Pascal Manley. “As Gaels, we refuse to remain silent. We are calling on every club in the county to walk with us in solidarity with the people of Palestine.”
While the event is primarily aimed at raising awareness, a bucket collection will also take place outside Brewster Park on the day. All funds raised will go to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a charity delivering vital medical services and humanitarian relief to those affected by the ongoing crisis.
Everyone is invited to take part in the five-mile walk (departing Lissan at 10.30am) and participants are encouraged to wear their club colours and bring flags and banners to show unity. Bus transfers from Enniskillen to Lissan will be provided. Keynote speakers will address the crowd outside Brewster Park ahead of the Erne county senior final.
Meanwhile, a national ‘Gaels Against Genocide’ group insist their campaign calling for the GAA to sever ties with major sponsor, Allianz will continue, in the wake of the recently agreed ceasefire in Gaza.
Last week GAA chiefs said their Ethics and Integrity Commission required time and space to look at the case and that a final decision would come from Association bosses and not the Commission itself. That work is ongoing with no timeline given, having first been mooted a month ago.
Any belief that Gaels Against Genocide, who protested at the recent Special Congress at Croke Park, might drop their campaign in the wake of a ceasefire though has been dismissed.
A spokesperson for the group said they will continue with the ‘Drop Allianz’ campaign “until accountability is achieved.”
Allianz Ireland sponsor the National Leagues and are one of three All-Ireland football Championship sponsors. They have stated they don’t comment on individual cases and their “long standing partnership with the GAA is about supporting Irish sport and communities.”
Back in August, a letter signed by almost 800 current and former inter-county players called for the GAA “to demonstrate its commitment to international humanitarian law and promptly cease its relationship with Allianz.”
Some of those who signed the letter include Neil McManus, Peter Canavan, Tómas Ó Sé, Joe Brolly, Shane McGuigan, Niall Cahalane, Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton, Danny Sutcliffe, Michael Darragh Macauley, Aoife Ní Chasáide, Jane Adams, Brendan Devenney and Sorcha Gormley.
Gaels against Genocide, who met with GAA President Jarlath Burns in May 2024,are an amalgamation of the groupings Dubs For Palestine, Irish Sport for Palestine and Gaeil ar son Gaza.
They took a stance against Allianz Ireland – the Irish subsidiary of the German based global financial giant – in the wake of a report in July from UN Special Rapporteur Francesa Albanese.
Albanese’s report – entitled “From economy of occupation to economy of genocide” – states that asset management firm, Pimco – owned by another part of the wider Allianz group – are a major purchaser of Israeli treasury bonds.
The report goes on to say that the firm holds $7.3 billion in Israeli shares and bonds, with $1 billion purchased since the start of the invasion of Gaza, which came after the October 11 attacks (2023), which killed over 1000 Israelis.
The report states that bonds purchased by a range of international finance companies have helped to prop up Israel’s economy and fund the IDF’s onslaught in Gaza.
Allianz Ireland have sponsored the GAA’s National Leagues in hurling and football for over 30 years and earlier this year signed a new five year deal, which is set to run until 2030.
They signed a new three year deal over the summer to continue as one of the GAA’s six Championship sponsors, having completed an original three year agreement, which was signed in 2023.
It is believed the Championship deal is worth in the region of €1 million per annum to the GAA. Allianz is one of three football Championship rights holders, with three more in hurling.
The National Leagues deal, which covers both codes, is understood to be worth in the region of €800,000 per annum.
Allianz are also a sponsor of the Camogie Association and primary schools body Cumann na mBunscol as well as Paralympics Ireland and the Olympic Federation of Ireland.
They are currently running a campaign entitled ‘Stop the Drop,’ which is aimed at preventing children dropping out of sport.
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