Irish Parties Back Eurovision Boycott, Seek Broader Bans on Israel
Major political parties in Ireland are publicly supporting the national broadcaster RTÉ's decision to boycott the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest and are calling for similar boycotts of other international events involving Israel. The debate in Ireland has expanded beyond just the song contest, with political figures urging the cancellation of a football match between Ireland and Israel, framing the Eurovision boycott as part of a larger discussion about Israel's participation in cultural and sporting events.
The main opposition party, Sinn Féin, has praised RTÉ's decision, viewing it as a principled stance against the situation in the Gaza Strip. Sinn Féin's spokesperson for culture, media, and sport, Joanna Byrne, stated that the decision was correct and that the situation in Gaza cannot be considered "normal." This aligns with Sinn Féin's broader position on the Palestinian issue; party leader Mary Lou McDonald had previously opposed the Ireland-Israel football match in June 2026 as part of wider political discussions.
The Social Democrats party also holds an interesting position. While party member of parliament, Синaед Гибни, supported RTÉ's withdrawal from Eurovision 2027, she criticized the broadcaster for intending to air the Irish national football team's matches against Israel. Гибни argued this presents a contradiction: if Israel's participation in Eurovision makes Ireland's involvement unacceptable, then the same principle should apply to other international events.
This highlights a key political aspect: the Irish discussion is no longer confined to Eurovision. In June 2026, Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, and the Labour Party supported proposals to cancel the Ireland-Israel football match. McDonald, Ivana Bacik, and even Гибни publicly stated the game should not proceed. Ultimately, under significant pressure, UEFA moved the match to a neutral venue without spectators, with the Irish Football Association noting its awareness of the "suffering and destruction caused to civilians in Gaza."
With widespread political support for the Eurovision boycott, questions arise whether this pattern will extend to further international events. RTÉ has officially confirmed its stance remains unchanged, stating the country will not participate in or broadcast the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, directly linking the decision to the war and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
