'No Going Back': How Palestinian struggles turned an Irish comedian into a global activist

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Irish comedian Tadhg Hickey, renowned for his satirical humor, recently emerged as a prominent activist, using his platform to highlight the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

What began as a comedic exploration of political hypocrisy has transformed into a passionate advocacy effort, with Hickey organizing rallies and urging action against what he sees as Irish complicity in the oppression of Palestinians.

Hickey, whose sketches and commentary have garnered international attention, spoke candidly to Anadolu about his evolution from a comedian to an activist.

"I suppose what my work was to just to use whatever skills I have to make people aware, I suppose, in the Global South, and well, particularly Palestinians, aware that not all of us stand by our government's hypocrisy and maliciousness -- really outright maliciousness -- towards Palestinians," he said.

Hickey's growing reach in the past year has allowed him to participate in organizing efforts far beyond the stage.

He explained that his role has expanded, particularly in connection with activists in Northern Ireland.

"Another thing that has happened, which is surprising to me, is because the sketches have done so well, and I have such a reach now that I'm able to be part of a group that can organize rallies and events and stuff," he said.

One of Hickey's most significant targets for activism is the Shannon Airport, which has long been a stopover point for US military aircraft.

Hickey and fellow activists view the airport as a symbol of Ireland's complicity in foreign conflicts, particularly regarding the Palestinian struggle.

"We feel like Shannon Airport is kind of the center of Irish complicity, that all our efforts should be directed towards Shannon, because that's where the US military stop over. It's a kind of an immediate and tangible point of culpability for the Irish government, and they’re consistently doing nothing about it," he said.

- 'I just feel like I'm kind of a useful cog in the machine of activism'

Despite the initial intention to stick to comedy, Hickey has embraced his role as an activist, admitting the shift has been unexpected but necessary.

"I thought I was just going to do comedy, and I was happy enough to be doing some satire, but not being an all-out activist. But I just feel the world has changed now, and there's kind of no going back," he said.

Hickey credits his year-long interaction with Palestinians as a turning point in his personal and professional life.

"Hanging around with Palestinians for the year has made me kind of reevaluate all those types of ways of looking at your life. I just feel like I'm kind of a useful cog in the machine of activism at the moment, and it's good," he said.

As his work continues to attract attention, Hickey sees his role as part of a larger collective effort to stand up for human rights.

"It feels like I'm part of a collective, and it's not just me anymore, which is such a Western idea -- that it's you, and you're an individual, and you're trying to get to the top, and you have to be the most famous comedian,” he said. “Now, I feel lucky that I am able to be useful at a crisis point for, I would say humanity, obviously for Palestinians, but for humanity as well."

Speaking about the personal and societal changes he has witnessed in the last year, Hickey noted that it was not just him who evolved, but the broader public as well.

"The average person on the street that you talk to now in Ireland, they've changed as well," he said. "I feel like I've changed, as you say, but I think we've all changed. There's kind of no going back from this last year."

Hickey's growing awareness of global injustices has led him to call out the double standards he sees in Western political responses to crises around the world. He pointedly criticized the selective outrage of Western governments when it comes to conflicts in non-white nations.

"It's like all masks are off," said Hickey. "The Western hypocrisy -- the West is really showing clearly now that terrorist attacks, genocide, and invasions are only a problem if it happens to white countries. If it happens to countries in the Global South or any enemy of the US, that's kind of okay, because they're brown and they're probably terrorists."

What began as a comedic exploration of political hypocrisy has grown into a full-fledged activist effort, with Hickey finding himself on the front lines advocating for human rights. As he continues to use his platform to speak out, he believes the world is changing and that there is no returning to the way things were.

"There really is no going back now," he said, reflecting on the far-reaching effect of the last year on his personal journey and collective awakening he has witnessed across Ireland and beyond.