"Irish artists pledge to boycott "Israel

In August 2010 the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) launched the following pledge, initially signed by over 140 (now 1,333) Irish creative and performing artists, whereby they undertake to boycott "Israel" under present circumstances:

“In response to the call from Palestinian civil society for a cultural boycott of "Israel", we pledge not to avail of any invitation to perform or exhibit in "Israel", nor to accept any funding from any institution linked to the government of "Israel", until such time as "Israel" complies with international law and universal principles of human rights.”  See the full list of signatories below.

In January 2020,  The ‘Irish Artists’ Pledge to Boycott Israel’ reached landmark 1000 signatures. 

In its statement in August 2020, The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of "Israel" (PACBI) strongly welcomed the Irish artists’ ‘pledge’ to boycott "Israeli" cultural institutions until "Israel" complies with international law.

it added that the pledge not only represents a significant victory for the ethical responsibilities of international cultural figures; a key factor in the cultural boycott of "Israel", but is a ground breaking strategy in supporting Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice.

The artists who have signed are aware of the "Israeli" Foreign Ministry’s statement in 2005 that “We see culture as a propaganda tool of the first rank, and…do not differentiate between propaganda and culture.” These artists refuse to allow their art to be exploited by an apartheid state that disregards international law and universal principles of human rights, but look forward to the day when normal cultural relations can be re-established with an "Israel" that fully complies with such laws and principles.

In 2005, when 170 Palestinian civil society organisations called a campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against "Israel", they provided a central plank for worldwide activism on behalf of their cause. Culture cannot stand aloof from such activism. Whether or not art is ‘above politics’, its presentation and representation in the real world can all too easily be hijacked by oppressive states. With this pledge, Irish artists have an opportunity to distance themselves from such exploitation, and to take a non-violent stand on behalf of the oppressed Palestinian people.

Full List of Signatories (1,333)
Last Updated: 22- September- 2021

Astrid Adler – Visual Artist, musician, mime artist

John Arden – Playwright, novelist

Siobhán Armstrong – Musician

Derek Ball – Composer

Robert Ballagh – Visual artist

Margo Banks – Painter

Cormac Begley – Musician

Liam Bradley – Musician

Diarmuid Breatnach – Musician, poet

Cecily Brennan – Artist

Ronan Browne – Musician

Conor Byrne – Musician

Roisin Byrne – Visual artist

Séamas Cain – Poet, performance artist

Moya Cannon – Poet

Liam Carson – Scríbhneoir

Clare Cashman – Visual artist

Rhona Clarke – Composer

Siobhán Cleary – Composer

Mickey Coleman – Singer/songwriter

Joe Comerford – Filmmaker

Michael Connerty – Musician (Afterwardness)

Neilí Conroy – Actor

Dorothy Cross – Sculptor

Charles Cullen – Visual artist

Michael Cullen († July 2020) – Painter

Cindy Cummings – Dance artist

Sinéad Cusack – Actor

Margaretta Darcy – Author and playwright

John F. Deane – Writer

Raymond Deane – Composer

Seamus Deane – Author († May 2021)

Renate DeBrun – Painter and printmaker

Damien Dempsey – Singer

Tim Dennehy – Singer/songwriter

Keith Donald – Musician

Philip Donnery – Musician

Gráinne Dowling – Visual artist

Kevin Doyle – Writer

Robert Doyle – Musician

Roger Doyle – Composer

Felim Egan – Visual artist († November 2020)

Martin A. Egan († November 2015) – Musician

Naisrín Elsafty – Singer

Róisín Elsafty – Singer

Zahrah Elsafty – Singer

Elaine Feeney – Poet

Stephen Gardner – Composer

Anthony Glavin – Novelist and short story writer

Dearbhla Glynn – Filmmaker

Johnny Gogan – Filmmaker

Carmel Gunning – Musician

Marie Hanlon – Visual artist

Robbie Harris – Musician

Paul Hayes – Composer

Graham Henderson – Musician

Donogh Hennessy – Musician, composer and performer

Rita Ann Higgins – Poet

Michael Holohan – Composer

Andy Irvine – Musician

Ryan Johnson – Musician

Fergus Johnston – Composer

Fred Johnston – Poet

Trevor Joyce – Poet

Bernadette Kiely – Painter

Brian King – († April 2017) Sculptor

Vincent Kennedy – Composer

Trevor Knight – Music/theatre

Conor Kostick – Novelist

Gavin Kostick – Playwright

Dave Lordan – Poet

Donal Lunny –Musician

Pól MacAdaim – Singer/songwriter

Iarla Mac Aodha Bhuí – Scríbhneoir

Mickey MacConnell – Singer/songwriter

Tony Mac Mahon – Musician

Lorcán Mac Mathúna – Singer

Alice Maher – Visual Artist

Brenda Malloy – Musician

Jimmy McCarthy – Singer/songwriter

Martin McElhinney – Musician (Coldwar)

Paul Nash – Musician (Coldwar)

Trevor McLave – (Coldwar)

Joe McGowan – Author

Jackie McKenna – Sculptor

John McLachlan – Composer

Joleen McLaughlin – Musician (Henry Girls)

Karen McLaughlin – Musician (Henry Girls)

Lorna McLaughlin – Musician (Henry Girls)

Tina Mc Laughlin- Singer/songwriter

Eoin McLochlainn – Visual artist

John McSherry – Musician

Paula Meehan – Poet

Thom Moore († March 2018)- Songwriter, writer/translator

Sharon (Shaz) Morgan – Musician, photographer

Sami Moukkadem – Musician, filmmaker, writer

Hassan Ould Muctar – Musician

Conor Mullan – Musician

Janet Mullarney († April 2020) – Visual artist

Gráinne Mulvey – Composer

Deirdre Murphy – Musician and playwright

Niamh Ní Charra – Musician

Peadar Ó Ceannabháin – Singer

Saileog Ní Cheannabháin – Musician

Treasa Ní Cheannabháin – Singer

Áine Ní Chuaig – Musician

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh – Musician/singer

Liam Noonan – Musician (Digital Disorder)

Dave Murphy – Musician (Digital Disorder)

Keith McGovern – Musician (Digital Disorder)

Ken Deasy – Musician (Digital Disorder)

Pádraig Ó Baoill – Scríbhneoir

Niall Ó Callanáin – Musician

Eamonn O’Doherty († August 2011) – Architect, sculptor

Méabh O Hare – Musician/filmmaker

Jane O’Leary – Composer

Brian Ó hUiginn – Musician

Donal O’Kelly – Playwright/actor

Ciarán Ó Maonaigh – Ceoltóir

Seosamh O Neachtain – Dancer

Eoin O’Neill – Musician

Jerry O’Reilly – Singer

Peadar Ó Riada – Ceoltóir

Gregory Rosenstock – Writer

Pauline Scanlon – Singer

Rossa Ó Snodaigh – Ceoltóir (Kíla)

Brian Hogan – Ceoltóir (Kíla)

Colm Ó Snodaigh – Ceoltóir (Kíla)

Paul O’Toole – Singer/songwriter

Michael Quane – Sculptor

Bob Quinn – Visual artist/filmmaker

Jim Ricks – Visual artist

Stephen Rothschild – Painter/printmaker

Mary Russell – Author

Dermot Seymour – Painter

John W. Sexton – Poet

Eileen Sheehan – Poet

Ronan Sheehan – Novelist

Michael Smith († November 2014) – Poet and translator

Moira Tierney – Filmmaker

Hugh Travers – Writer

Caoimhín Vallely – Ceoltóir

Laura Vecchi – Painter/writer

John Wakeman – Poet

Hilary Wakeman – Author

Hazel Walker – Visual artist

William Wall – Author

Ronan Wilmot – Actor/director

Steve Woods – Filmmaker

Adam Wyeth – Poet

Luke Mercer – Musician (Oddsocks Revival)

Adrian White – Writer

Tom Fitzgerald – Visual artist

Clara Rose – Musician

Conor McGrady – Visual artist

Dermot McLaughlin – Musician

Michael Owens – Singer/songwriter

Anthony Fox – Actor, writer

Conor Grimes – Writer, actor

Stuart Nealon – Poet

Darach Ó Scolaí – Writer

Cahal Johnson – Musician

Michael Gallagher – Photographer

Kevin Spratt (aka Captain Moonlight) – Musician

Cara Dillon – Musician

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh – Ceoltóir

Fiach (Moriarty) – Singer/songwriter

Loreana Rush – Photographer

Alice Hanratty – Painter

Barry McGovern – Actor

Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill – Poet

Lillis Ó Laoire – Musician

Stephen Rea – Actor

Liam Ó Maonlaí – Musician

Ellen Cranitch – Musician

Sharon Shannon – Musician

Seamus Cashman – Poet

Julius Guzy – Painter

Dermot Browne – Painter

Denise Cassidy – Painter

Kevin Crawford – Musician

Gráinne Holland – Musician (Casadh)

Frainc Mac Cionnaith – Musician (Casadh)

Nioclás Mac Cathmhaoil – Musician (Casadh)

Barry Kerr – Artist and musician

John Steele – Musician

Conor Biggs – Musician

Robbi McMillen – Singer

Alan O Connor – Photographer

Sarah Clancy – Poet

Maria McManus – Poet and playwright

Tiona McSherry – Musician

Paul McSherry – Musician

Daragh Carville – Playwright and screenwriter

Harry Moore – Artist

Dylan Walshe – Singer/songwriter

Melissa Nolan – Actor

Anthony Kane (aka The Lonely Schizophrenic) – Musician

John Ryan – Author

Dermot Kelly – Photographer

Ciaran Dwyer – Singer/songwriter

Tommy Halferty – Musician

Finian Cunninghman – Singer/songwriter

Eamon Murray – Musician

Rynagh O’Grady – Actor

Padraig Murray – Actor

Michal Leman-Lemanski – Theatre producer/cultural project manager

Sara Horgan – Visual artist

Pat ‘deVerse’ Burke – Traditional Singer/Songwriter

Denise Woods – Director of photography

Paul Flynn – Composer

Glenda Cimino – Writer, actor, director

Shane Cullen – Visual artist

Jaki McCarrick – Writer

Tim Ording – Singer/songwriter (Melodica Deathship)

Roisin Ni Galloglaigh – Musician

Kevin McCarthy – Visual artist

Joby Fox – Songwriter

Rik Walton – Photographer

Connor Kelly – Poet/musician

Katrin Neue – Dancer and choreographer

Pamela Brown – Poet

Paul Kirby – Visual artist

Barry Hamilton – Filmmaker and director

Luke Fallon – Cartoonist

Ciaran Murphy – Singer/songwriter

Seán Harrington – Arc