Dublin LGFA player Jennifer Dunne has explained that the team’s decision to hold up a banner calling for a ceasefire in Palestine was taken to “show support for those people” amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.
The Girls in Blue made plenty of headlines with that statement, which took place prior to their opening National Football League game of 2024 versus Kerry at Parnell Park.
#CeasefireNow
Dublin Ladies made their stance clear before their league opener against Kerry today, sending a message which read "Sos cogaidh sa Phalaistín"... roughly translating to 'A truce in Palestine'.
The highest profile team in Ireland to speak out so far. Impressive. pic.twitter.com/wqwhCuP0Yj— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) January 20, 2024
“I think there’s just so much going on in the world and there’s lots of issues that I think people aren’t overly aware of,” Dunne says.
“I think for us as a group we just want to show our support and raise a bit of awareness about it.”
The sign, which read ‘Sos cogaidh sa Phalaistín’, roughly translates to ‘A truce in Palestine’, and although as Dunne explains they “did receive mixed views and opinions”, they did it for an important reason.
“We just wanted to show our solidarity for those people,” she says.
“It was only a small gesture but I guess small things and actions speak louder than words sometimes.”
‘SOS COGAIDH SA PHALAISTIN’ - CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE 🇵🇸
Brilliant from the Dublin Ladies team 🇮🇪🤝🇵🇸#Ceasefire_In_Gaza #dublinladies pic.twitter.com/Sb9YbqIXxz— Noel Pearse (@LMKcitykid) January 20, 2024
The team had also released a statement directly after the match, citing that they "feel strongly about taking a stand on the issue of an Immediate Ceasefire in Palestine" and that they've been "disturbed and saddened" by events there in recent times.
“Almost 25,000 lives have been lost, 70% of whom are women, children and young adolescents, while more than 20,000 babies have been born into a living hell. A staggering 85% of the population has now been displaced while all the hospitals have been destroyed in Gaza," the statement continued.
“We are privileged to represent this great city of Dublin, however, with that great privilege comes a great responsibility to do the right thing. We want our voices to be heard. So, we are taking this opportunity to plead with the key influencers and decision makers.
“Please do all in your power to help bring a ceasefire and end to hostilities in the Gaza region.
“Ní neart go cur le chéile.”
The magnificent gesture from the Dublin ladies football team calling for a ceasefire in Gaza,
i admire our Irish ladies.
Ireland stands defiantly with Palestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/f0YGZEjcsX— 🇮🇪 Brónzy Guevara 🇮🇪 (@BronzyGuevara) January 25, 2024
Jennifer Dunne on growing athleticism within the LGFA
Dunne was speaking at a STATSports event at the GAA National Games Development Centre, with the key focus of discussing the development of the game itself as well as all of the time and resources that now go into women’s inter county teams.
“I think having that GPS data is of huge benefit to us as players and the evolution of the game, just getting to see and have access to so many different things outside of the football aspect of it,” she says.
🔥 Who’s the fastest player in your squad?
🏐We asked @LadiesFootball players from Dublin, Meath, Kerry, Mayo and Armagh today in conjunction with @statsports to find out!
Got any other shouts 🤔 ? Let us know 👇 #lgfa #gaa #womeninsport pic.twitter.com/nJM5HPIW4H— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) January 30, 2024
“For us as a team within the Dublin set up we look at our high speed running, especially max velocity and sprint distance as well and we like to create a competitive culture within the group sometimes trying to hit certain targets.
“There’s so much information on the apps and those systems and trackers that it has kind of gone hand in hand with the skill level and the whole athleticism of all of the girls playing the game today.”
Coming off the back of two successive NFL defeats to both Kerry and Meath, Dunne and the reigning All Ireland champions Dublin will be looking to bounce back against Mayo this combining Sunday.
Into the west ...
NEXT Sunday ( Feb 4th) the Dubs are on the road for their @lidl_ireland NFL round 3 meeting with Mayo.
The action will get underway at 2pm in Ballina Stephenites GAA club. Tickets will go on sale shortly from https://t.co/ItCrBDB5CU #DublinLGFA #COYGIB… pic.twitter.com/8aN5QqPYFy— DublinLGFA (@dublinladiesg) January 28, 2024
