‘Love Peace, Hate War’ Valentine’s Day street events

Campaigners say they received massive public support for their message of ‘Love Peace, Hate War’ at a series of street actions and petition stalls on the issue of defending Irish neutrality, which took place on Valentine’s Day (Saturday, 14th), in several communities in Dublin.

The events saw local volunteers from community-based neutrality groups in Dublin 3 and Dublin 7 host public information stalls in Cabra and Stoneybatter, where they spoke with residents about the need to protect Irish neutrality and retain the Triple Lock provisions governing overseas military deployments.

In North Strand, a stall was held while a new mural stating ‘Save the Triple Lock’ was painted on a union office’s front shutter.

Fionnuala Halpin, community activist, artist, and founding member of Dublin 3 for Neutrality, said: “The response to the stalls was overwhelmingly positive, people are engaged on this issue and really can’t believe that the Government is seeking to discard our proud tradition of military neutrality and drag our country into alliance with NATO.”

She added: “We want to save Irish neutrality to protect our children’s future. Our event was family-friendly and open to all residents.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to chat to friends and neighbours about these issues.”

Elaine Fitzgerald of Dublin 7 for Neutrality said: “Ireland has shown that we can be both neutral and play a positive role in advocating for peace.

“Our troops are recognised the world over for peacekeeping duties, a proud legacy which will be abandoned if the Government parties have their way.”

She added: ‘As a mother, I don’t want my children or grandchildren being used as fodder for the European weapons industry.”

The community events were facilitated with support from Forward Ireland – the workers and community coalition.

Forward Ireland member, Cieran Perry, said: “NATO, the EU and Trump are attempting to force Ireland into spending billions of euros on war equipment when we have over 5,000 children living in homelessness, a cost of living crisis for working class families, a continuing dysfunctional health service and over 250,000 people living in consistent poverty.”

He added: “The growth of these local neutrality groups follows a series of public meetings last year in working-class communities across Dublin, facilitated by Forward Ireland and addressed by experts, including former Defence Forces members, legal researchers, academics and community leaders.

“These events highlighted why neutrality is a working-class issue under the banner ‘Not Our Sons and Daughters’.”