The Cúirt Lecture: When Governments Fail, We Set Sail

Town Hall Theatre

Town Hall Theatre, Ireland

Reflections on the Global Sumud Flotillas and the potential for citizen’s direct collective action in the face of the emerging world (dis)order. Sarah Clancy took part in the 2025 Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian action which involved more than 500 people from 47 different countries sailing in small boats to attempt to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza. Although ultimately unsuccessful, this flotilla led to a renewed concentration of the world’s attention on Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinian men women and children in Gaza and the failure of governments all across the so-called west to uphold international law. This lecture will focus on the gap between public sentiment and government action in Ireland and the EU as well as the flotillas and their purpose, ethic and motivation.