Breaking News Ireland: Dublin Silent March Honours Healthcare Workers Killed or Detained in Gaza

A silent march through Dublin on Saturday placed dozens of pairs of shoes at the centre of a public demonstration for healthcare workers killed, abducted or imprisoned in Gaza. Organised by Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine, the event brought healthcare professionals and supporters from across Ireland into the capital.

The march began at St Stephen’s Green before continuing along Grafton Street and Drury Street. Participants carried Irish and Palestinian flags, posters and banners, while the shoes were used to represent the individual lives behind the growing number of healthcare workers affected by the conflict.

What happened at the Dublin march?

About 130 pairs of white shoes were displayed during the demonstration. The collection included different styles, such as sandals, trainers and high heels, reflecting the personal identities of the people the protest sought to remember.

Organisers said the visual display was intended to move beyond statistics and focus attention on the individuals who wore the shoes. The march was also accompanied by The Children’s Blanket, a project also known as Granny Squares for Gaza.

The blanket project consists of 3,000 hand-knitted squares. Each square represents 10 children reported as killed in Gaza, according to the group involved in the Dublin event.

Irish healthcare workers call for action in Gaza

Nicola Cantwell, a pharmacist from Co Carlow and founder of Irish Pharmacists for Palestine, said similar shoe displays had previously been held in the Netherlands. She said the number represented had risen from about 1,400 pairs in April 2025 to 1,700 since then.

The Dublin display therefore served both as a memorial and as a warning about the continuing impact on medical professionals. Cantwell said public awareness was no longer enough and called for a collective effort to stop the killing and restore hope to people living in Gaza.

She has attended marches since October 2023 in support of doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other healthcare workers killed while carrying out their duties. She said the reported attacks on medical staff and hospitals had deeply affected members of the profession.

Healthcare workers traditionally provide treatment regardless of a patient’s identity or political position. That principle of duty of care, organisers said, was central to the demonstration.

Why the protest matters

The event linked the protection of healthcare workers with wider concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Marchers held signs calling for an end to bombing and improved access to food, while others displayed the names of detained healthcare workers.

Mike Grennan, from Co Offaly, attended despite not working in healthcare. He said he travelled to Dublin to show solidarity and joined others carrying posters bearing the names of healthcare workers who had been detained.

Dr Caroline Jagoe Sherman, a speech and language therapist based at Trinity College Dublin, also took part. She connected the conflict to disability rights and humanitarian action, describing Gaza as a political crisis that had created a humanitarian disaster.

From a disability perspective, she said, the conflict was resulting in the creation of long-term impairments through serious injury. She argued that such harm raises concerns under international humanitarian law.

Irish News: demonstrations have continued since 2023

The Dublin march forms part of a wider series of solidarity demonstrations held in Ireland since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023. Cantwell said attendance at regular marches could reach up to 1,000 people.

The events have brought together medical professionals, humanitarian campaigners, students and members of the public. Their focus has included the protection of hospitals, the safety of medical staff, access to essential supplies and the treatment of civilians affected by the war.

Saturday’s silent format placed emphasis on remembrance rather than speeches. The lack of noise, combined with the rows of shoes and names on posters, created a visual reminder of the people represented by the campaign.

What happens next?

The organisers’ central message was that international attention must be followed by practical action. They called for greater protection for healthcare workers and hospitals, as well as measures to address the humanitarian crisis affecting civilians in Gaza.

There was no indication that the campaign would end with Saturday’s event. With regular marches continuing and healthcare workers from across Ireland participating, organisers are expected to maintain pressure through further public demonstrations and advocacy.

Frequently asked questions

Who organised the Dublin demonstration?

The silent march was organised by Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine and supported by The Children’s Blanket, also known as Granny Squares for Gaza.

What did the shoes represent?

Approximately 130 pairs of shoes represented healthcare workers who had been killed or abducted in Gaza. Their different styles were intended to highlight the personal lives of those represented.

Where did the march take place?

Participants started at St Stephen’s Green and walked through Grafton Street and Drury Street before returning towards the city-centre area.

Who attended?

Healthcare workers, campaigners and members of the public attended. Participants included a pharmacist from Co Carlow, a Trinity College Dublin speech and language therapist and supporters from outside the healthcare profession.

Conclusion

The Dublin march turned a public street into a place of remembrance for healthcare workers affected by the war in Gaza. Through shoes, names, knitted squares and a silent procession, Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine asked the public to see the human beings behind the figures and to support stronger action to protect medical staff and civilians. This Breaking News Ireland report highlights why the demonstration has become part of the country’s continuing humanitarian debate.