Grousehall woman in tune with ‘A Song for Palestine’
A WOMAN with Grousehall roots was among a group of influencers who organised a successful day of solidarity of music and song in Dublin at the weekend.
Fionnuala Sexton is a programme/project management consultant now living in Dublin. She is also a former Dublin County and Na Fianna club footballer.
On Sunday, to mark International Day of Peace, Fionnuala and other women from the worlds of music, politics, law, education, healing, and wellness organised ‘A Song for Palestine’. Fionnuala told the Celt the event attracted a contingent from Cavan following coverage in this newspaper and on social media.
She said she also got a lovely response from her Cavan friends and family who didn’t know she was part of the organising committee.
Fionnuala’s mother, Anne Sexton, and her brother and sisters still live in the Grousehall area.
“Thanks to The Anglo-Celt and Martin O’Donohoe and others, there was a great turnout from Cavan, which I was delighted about because it was supposed to be a national event and it’s always easier for Dublin people to turn up to a Dublin event,” Fionnuala said.
The organising committee spent two and half months preparing for the event, which involved road closures, a peace walk, garda escorts, publicity and health and safety considerations.
“The people on the committee could literally run a small country,” Fionnuala told the Celt. One of the organisers, Regina O’Connor said those who took part wanted to “bear witness to the man-made famine, genocide and horrific events and send love and support to Palestine”.
Musicians supporting the march include songwriter and musician Jack L, Kíla fiddle player Dee Armstrong, Liam Ó Maonlaí of the Hothouse Flowers, Danny O’Reilly of the Coronas, Mundy and others.
Fionnuala said the intention behind the event was to “send peace, love and our good intentions to the people of Gaza” who feel abandoned.
“We have arranged with people who are going back to Gaza to bring videos of our march to show the Palestinian people they have not been abandoned and they are not alone.”