Gaelscoil staff sponsor water truck for Gaza in 24-hour collection drive

Staff at Gaelscoil Eoghan Uí Thuairisc in Carlow have raised enough money within 24 hours to sponsor a truck delivering 4,500 litres of clean drinking water to families in Gaza.

The collection was organised after teachers and staff became aware of the ‘Uisce for Gaza’ initiative, an Irish-led fundraising effort that pays for the distribution of water from desalination plants operating inside Gaza. The group is working independently of NGOs, which it says are currently being prevented from bringing aid into the region.

Funds were donated through Uisce for Gaza’s GoFundMe page. Within days, the school received a video of truck number 1537 bearing the Gaelscoil’s name, along with an audio message of thanks.

“Watching women and children queuing in the searing heat with makeshift containers at the tanker was profoundly moving,” the school said in a statement, adding that seeing the truck bearing the school’s name was “tangible evidence that every euro counts”.

Uisce for Gaza paid tribute to the school’s contribution. “Thank you to the staff of Gaelscoil Eoghan Uí Thuairisc for sponsoring this water truck and helping deliver thousands of litres of clean, life-saving water to families in Gaza. Your solidarity carries hope across the miles. Go raibh míle maith agaibh”.

One truck carrying 4,500 litres of clean water currently costs approximately €280. Donors of that amount or more have their name placed on a truck in acknowledgement of their sponsorship, while smaller donations are pooled to fund full trucks.

The school noted that the Gaelscoil has a long tradition of supporting charitable causes, including Christmas busking for St Vincent de Paul and the MS Readathon.

Uisce for Gaza was established as an unincorporated association with its own bank account to ensure full transparency, and accepts no cash donations. Since August 2024, the initiative has delivered more than 5.5 million litres of clean drinking water to Gaza. As of Monday, 29 June, it had raised €244,526 of a €300,000 target through its iDonate page.

The United Nations has denounced what it described as the use of “thirst as a weapon” in Gaza, and has noted the repeated targeting of water facilities including wells, pipelines, desalination units and sewage systems.

Those wishing to donate can do so through Uisce for Gaza’s iDonate page or by following the initiative on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.