Northern Ireland

GAA chiefs urged to cancel Croke Park event over Israeli military links

Firm linked to Israel to hold summit at GAA HQ

The Oasis reunion gigs are being staged at Dublin’s Croke Park
There have been calls for a summit organised by an Israeli linked IT firm at Croke Park to be cancelled (Damien Eagers/PA)

The GAA is coming under pressure to cancel a summit at Croke Park organised by a company linked to the Israeli military.

International technology company Red Hat is due to hold an event in the GAA’s headquarters later this month.

The firm, which has offices in Ireland, provides IT services to the Israeli armed forces, which are responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza since last October.

Despite international pressure Israel has refused to call a permanent ceasefire.



Israel launched the current operation after around 1,200 people were killed during a Hamas-led attack inside Israeli territory last October, during which around 200 hostages were taken.

Both the GAA and Gaelic Players Association have backed calls for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds.

Grass roots GAA members opposed to the summit have called on association chiefs to cancel the event.

A letter circulated to campaigners said all clubs, county and provincial boards will be contacted urging them to cancel the “event in our national stadium”.

People are also being urged to contact association president Jarlath Burns.

Michael Doherty of Gaels Against Genocide said “our response to the events in Gaza are a litmus test of our humanity”.

On its website Red Hat said the Dublin event “will provide you the opportunity to join your peers, explore the latest Red Hat technologies, and collaborate with industry leaders to explore the future of technology”.

Attempts were made to contact Red Hat.

The GAA was contacted.