Two Wexford-based women, Deirdre and Colleen, have been staging weekly silent fasts inside the local council buildings for the past ten weeks, in a powerful act of solidarity with the people of Gaza. Their quiet protest, which began on the main street before moving to the symbolic “seat of power” at the council chamber, is intended to raise awareness and stir the conscience of elected representatives.
Deirdre, who has fasted for 24 hours every Wednesday without food—taking only water—has been joined in recent weeks by Colleen, a retired children’s nurse, who skips lunch in support. At the heart of their protest is a handmade symbolic figure—a shrouded infant—representing the countless children killed in the conflict, including those reportedly shot by snipers. Deirdre described the action as a “funeral rite” for the ongoing devastation in Gaza, marked by grief, frustration and a deep sense of helplessness over what she calls “a man-made disaster.” The pair have encountered mostly support from the public, though occasional verbal abuse has not deterred them. They are calling on Irish citizens, leaders and especially elected officials to take stronger, more tangible action beyond condemnation and to refuse to treat the situation in Gaza as “business as usual.” With peaceful protests continuing in places like Redmond Square and growing public engagement through art and activism, both women hope their actions—however small—will be part of a global turning point.
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