A Co Donegal summer school has switched a live lecture named in honour of late SDLP leader John Hume to a transatlantic video link amid criticism and potential protests by pro-Palestinian campaigners.
Congressman Brendan Boyle, a second generation Irish-American whose father is from Glencolmcille in Co Donegal, was due to deliver the Hume Lecture in person this Thursday August 17 but his address will now be beamed live from the US to the MacGill Summer School in Glenties.
The switch came as a councillor whose motion led Donegal County Council to adopt sanctions against Israel criticised the summer school's decision to invite the US congressman, who along with his brother Kevin, a state representative, sponsored an anti-BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) bill aimed at punishing companies that boycott Israeli goods. Both Sinn Féin and the SDLP have recently criticised similar Tory legislation.
Independent Donegal councillor Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, whose BDS motion was supported unanimously by the council, said Mr Boyle's record meant "he should be de-platformed".
The MacGill Summer School's decision has also been criticized by Bloody Sunday campaigner Kate Nash, who described the Democrat congressman as a "cheerleader" for Israel.
Mr Boyle, a representative for Pennsylvania, said the brothers' legislation "would hit any company that directly or indirectly supports where it hurts the most — in the wallet".
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The congressman, who spoke via video link at last year's Ireland's Future event in the 3Arena, has made statements in the past supporting Israel's "absolute right to defend its citizens against terrorist attacks".
Up until last the end of last week, he had been due to deliver Thursday's lecture in person but in the time since The Irish News contacted the congressman's office and the MacGill Summer School, making them aware of the criticism, the format of the event has been changed, with Mr Boyle now scheduled to deliver his talk via video link.
Neither the congressman or MacGill Summer School have responded to requests for comment.
Mr Mac Giolla Easbuig said the decision to invite Mr Boyle was "entirely inappropriate".
"I don't believe Brendan Boyle should receive a céad míle fáilte in Donegal because of his attitude towards the struggle of the Palestinian people – he should be de-platformed," he told The Irish News.
The independent councillor said the Boyle brothers' anti-BDS bill was "designed to undermine legitimate protest – a form of protest for which Ireland has a proud history".
"The Dunnes' workers stood against apartheid in South Africa and Donegal County Council stands against Israeli apartheid today – we even fly the Palestinian flag at Oifig ceantair chathrach na nGleanntach sa Chlochán Liath (Glenties Municipal District office in Dungloe),” he said.
Mr Mac Giolla Easbuig said many households and community centres in Donegal also flew the Palestinian flag in solidarity and that there was a possibility of a protest at the event.
Donegal County Council has so far declined to say what policy it has in place for flying the Palestinian flag from civic buildings or how much financial support it has provided to the MacGill Summer School this year.
Founded in 1981, the MacGill Summer School celebrates the memory of local writer Patrick MacGill, who a century ago documented the "social conditions in Donegal, the plight of migrant workers in Britain and the horrors of the Great War, in which he fought as a soldier of the London Irish Rifles".
Previous figures to deliver the Hume Lecture over the past 22 years include writer and public servant Maurice Hayes, former taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald and late deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.
