Dublin, June 12, 2024. Professor Kieran Jack McGinley, prominent Irish solidarity activist, president of “SIPTU Solidarity with Cuba” was awarded the “Friendship Medal” on the night of June 11, in compliance with the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Cuba, No. 734, of December 28, 2023.
The activity, held on the occasion of the visit to Ireland of colleague Rigoberto Zarza Ross, European director of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, began with the national anthems of Ireland and Cuba, followed by the projection of images that reflect the ties between both peoples, the global rejection of the blockade and the role played by McGinley in solidarity with the Cuban Revolution Cuba and other just causes, such as that of the Palestinian people.
During an emotional ceremony, held in the “Liberty Hall” room, headquarters of SIPTU (Ireland's largest union), a large number of his colleagues, family, friends and Cubans residing in Ireland participated. At the beginning of the event, the General Secretary of the union organization, Joe Cunningham, welcomed those present, recognized the merits of McGinley and took advantage of the occasion to express solidarity with Cuba, a victim of the North American blockade.
For his part, Zarza Ross highlighted ICAP's reasons for having made the proposal to the Council of State, while the Cuban ambassador to Ireland, Bernardo Guanche Hernández, upon imposing the high distinction, read part of the aforementioned decree. In it, the reasons for such important recognition of Dr. McGinley are expressed, among others, his extraordinary participation in campaigns in defense of the Revolution and the denunciation of the attacks against Cuba, especially the unjust economic, commercial and financial blockade of the States.
For his part, McGinley expressed his gratitude to Cuba for its example and for the awarding of the Medal at the same time that he ratified his commitment to continue the battle against the blockade and for the exclusion of the largest island of the Antilles from the unjust List of countries sponsoring terrorism.