Tomorrow: Protest calling for Eurovision Boycott to take place at RTÉ Studios - singers, musicians, artists and activists to take part in mini-concert

Press Release, Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Thursday May 8th 2025

Tomorrow evening, Friday 9th May, between 5pm and 6:30pm the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign will stage a mini-concert calling for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2025 outside RTÉ Studios gates (Stillorgan Road entrance). The action will feature artists, musicians, and LGBT and human rights activists, and the chairperson of RTÉ NUJ Broadcast Branch.

Great visuals for photographers and television reporting. Interviews with musicians, artists, and activists available at the RTE gate.

Israel is determined to artwash its genocide in Gaza and West Bank war crimes, and is using the occasion of the Eurovision Song Contest to project an image of itself as a 'normal' state - when it is anything but. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural boycott of Israel (PACBI), and the Palestinian led global BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement have called on all countries to refuse to participate because of Israel’s inclusion by the EBU - the same EBU that indefinitely suspended Russia and Belarus in 2022.

This week we have seen great strides in the Boycott Eurovision Campaign across Europe with Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, Spain publicly questioning Israel's participation. More than 70 former contestants signed a letter demanding that Israel’s national broadcaster KAN be banned, including Irish Eurovision contestants; Charlie McGettigan, Mickey Harte, Brian Kennedy and Mark Caplice. Speaking to the Irish Times, Charlie McGettigan said “When we see what is going on in Gaza, on our televisions, every evening, it is horrifying, it is pitiful…The Eurovision Song Contest has an audience of 200 million around the world. People love Eurovision. If we can use that platform to make people aware, it should be used”.

In addition to this the RTÉ broadcasting branch of the NUJ publicly announced that they had written to RTÉ’s Director General Kevin Bakhurst. The pressure of the campaign, including more than 600 emails from the public, has compelled RTÉ to contact the EBU to raise concerns about Israel’s participation. However, the EBU has remained committed to the position that Israel remains part of the Eurovision, and RTE has reiterated to continue with Irish participaction whether or not Israel is allowed to compete.

Eman Mohammed, Palestinian award-winning photojournalist from Gaza and Trevor Keegan, RTÉ presenter, producer and chair of the RTÉ’s broadcasting branch of the NUJ will speak on the importance of Journalistic integrity and the need for RTÉ to stand on the right side of history. They will be joined by a host of amazing and talented Irish and Palestinian musicians such as Keith Donald (Moving Hearts), Eoghan Scott, Talha WiseWolf, Aoife Kelly & Ciara Murphy (Biird), Ellen O’Meara, Tarrach (Groveline), The event will be MCed by Bronadh Ní Bhrian (IPSC). 

IPSC Chairperson, Zoe Lawlor said: “The Times of Israel reports that the staging for Israel’s performance this year will include a balcony that Kan says is a 'symbolic nod' to the famous image of Zionism's founder Theodor Herzl standing on a balcony in Basel, Switzerland. We are repulsed by this blatant attempt by Israel's national broadcaster to culture-wash the apartheid state's official, racist, ideology Zionism at the Eurovision. It’s vital to exclude the genocidal apartheid state of Israel from this global cultural platform, NOW! Ireland showed the way in the 1980s, standing resolutely against the racist and murderous crimes of Apartheid South Africa. RTÉ can help do the same now, by withdrawing its participation, and standing on the side of humanity, equality and human rights. Boycott Eurovision 2025!”