Ireland removes name of Ex. Israeli regime president from Dublin park
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The park was renamed 'Herzog Park' in the mid-1990s in tribute to Chaim Herzog and his father, Yitzhak Herzog.
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Blue plastic sign, hung up by activists, with a proposed alternative name, at Herzog Park, during a protest in July 2024 (Source: Social media)
The Dublin City Council has approved a decision to remove the name of the sixth president of the Israeli regime, Chaim Herzog, from a public park in the Rathgar neighborhood, following sustained pressure from pro-Palestine activists.
According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the proposal to rename the park was first submitted to the city’s South East Area Committee in December 2023, amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza. It was officially approved by a majority vote earlier this week.
Activists are pressing for the park to be renamed either "Free Palestine" or Hind Rajab in honor of the martyred Palestinian child Hind Rajab.
The decision comes amid continued pressure from pro-Palestine organizations, which have organized numerous protests in Dublin since the beginning of the 2023 aggression on Gaza. These efforts include calls for international sporting bodies such as UEFA, FIFA, and the International Cycling Union (UCI) to boycott the Zionist entity.
Criticism from pro-'Israel' voices
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the move has drawn sharp criticism from pro-Israeli figures in Ireland, including former Irish Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.
It was originally opened in 1985 as Orwell Quarry Park, but was renamed "Herzog Park" in the mid-1990s in tribute to Chaim Herzog and his father, Yitzhak Herzog, the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and the first Chief Rabbi of "Israel".
The office of the Israeli president voiced concern over the decision, claiming it undermines Herzog’s legacy and his historic connection to Ireland.
The statement emphasized that naming the park after Herzog nearly three decades ago symbolized recognition of his legacy and reflected a "deep friendship between the Irish and Jewish peoples," which, the statement said, has "unfortunately" deteriorated in recent years.
Statement in response to Dublin City Council on the proposed removal of the name of Israel’s Sixth President Chaim Herzog from a park, and renaming it “Free Palestine”:
— Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident) November 29, 2025
We are following with concern the reports from Ireland regarding the intention to harm the legacy of the sixth…
