Tadhg Hickey: "Ireland Is Palestine" – A shared history of colonialism

In an event happened in London for Gaza, Irish comedian and activist Tadhg Hickey draws a striking parallel between Ireland’s colonial past and Palestine’s present struggles.

He argues that both nations have endured oppression under a similar colonial playbook—marked by land theft, ethnic cleansing, and a sense of racial superiority by their oppressors.

Hickey highlights historical evidence of British colonial violence in Ireland, such as skulls of murdered Irish peasants displayed at Trinity College, Dublin.

He believes that the same supremacist ideology drives Israeli actions against Palestinians today and condemns the West’s apparent indifference toward Palestinian suffering.

Hickey’s sharp political satire has garnered over 100 million views and a global social media following, alongside a fair share of backlash, including death threats. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, he has become an outspoken advocate, using his voice to expose Western complicity and call for urgent action.

Beyond social media, he has written, directed, and starred in numerous projects for Ireland’s national broadcaster (RTÉ) and has toured extensively across Ireland and Britain with his critically acclaimed theatre and stand-up comedy shows.