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LAST UPDATE | 4 Oct
TWO PEOPLE HAVE been arrested for public order offences after a protest at Dublin’s Port Tunnel.
The protest began this afternoon, with a small number of people occupying the road. Several of them were draped in Palestinian flags.
A garda spokesperson said: “As the public gathering moved towards Dublin Port Tunnel this afternoon a Garda cordon was established to prevent a protest blocking the Port Tunnel in order to maintain traffic movement through key infrastructure (Dublin Port Tunnel and the M50).
“An Garda Síochána attempted to engage with the protest group over the course of the afternoon to disperse the protest in a voluntary manner.
“Despite this engagement there was a co-ordinated and concerted effort to physically breach the Garda cordon.”
Members of the Garda National Public Order Unit, supported by frontline uniformed Gardaí, “intervened to prevent a breach of the garda cordon which included the use of incapacitant spray on protesters”, the spokesperson said.
The protest has now dispersed and gardaí said they will continue investigations into the incident.
Traffic flow is being returned to normal.
Dublin Tunnel said earlier this afternoon, “Due to a protest at the Dublin Port side of the Dublin Tunnel, traffic is currently being metered because of congestion.”
On Thursday, a larger protest at the port tunnel caused significant delays.
The protest is one of many ongoing in the city today. Earlier, thousands took part in a pro-Palestinian rally in the city centre.
Organisers said the protest marks “two years of genocide in Gaza” and called on the government to sanction Israel.
It is the 17th such demonstration convened by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which has seen tens of thousands of people gather in the streets of the capital over the last two years.
The march was held between the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square and was due to finish at Leinster House for a series of speeches. It was also set to feature musical performances.
A number of opposition politicians took part in the rally, including Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy.
Saoirse don Phalaistín🇵🇸✊🏻 pic.twitter.com/6CCfrOeciu
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) October 4, 2025
Participants including left-wing political groups and trade unions held banners and waved Palestinian flags.
The protest came after 16 Irish citizens were among hundreds detained by Israel after it intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying aid to Gaza.
Speaking ahead of the protest, IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said there had been a “savage food and aid blockade for months” into Gaza, while local health officials reported 66,000 deaths in the enclave.
“Between 50 and 100 people are still being killed every day – and more than 100 more Palestinians were murdered over the past 24 hours,” Lawlor said.
“We have also seen the illegal interception of the global sumud flotilla in international waters and the detention of hundreds of activists, including many Irish citizens, trying to deliver aid to Gaza.
“The response of Western powers has been to keep sending guns, bombs and tech to murder Palestinians.”
Lawlor added: “Sadly, Ireland is little different.
Simon Harris has called Israel’s actions ‘genocide’, ‘unconscionable’ and ‘unacceptable’ – yet the Irish government is barely lifting a finger to end Ireland’s deep complicity in this genocide.
The IPSC is also calling on the government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, which proposes banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
A cross-party committee recommended earlier this year that the government pass the bill and the prohibition of imports from the Palestinian Occupied Territories should be extended to include trade in services.
Earlier, protesters called for the GAA to end its sponsorship arrangement with Allianz.
While the GAA held a special congress at Croke Park, around 50 people took part in a demonstration outside the Hogan Stand entrance.
Dubs for Palestine and Gaels against Genocide in Gaza said the GAA hierarchy had received correspondence asking the organisation to end Allianz’s long-term sponsorship of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
The groups say the insurance firm had ties to companies that were enabling Israel’s war in Gaza.
They criticised the GAA for a lack of response to their concerns and also expressed disappointment that the matter was not up for a vote at the special congress.
The GAA was accused of the selling of Irish culture and heritage as the recent hosting of an NFL game at Croke Park was also criticised.
Allianz and the GAA have been contacted for comment.
With reporting from Press Association
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