Stephen's Green Stores Temporarily Close Due to Palestine Protest

The Shut It Down For Palestine passed off peacefully in the capital on Saturday afternoon A number of stores in Stephen's Green briefly shuttered yesterday afternoon as protesters gathered outside. The Shut It Down For Palestine protest took place on in the capital on Saturday afternoon, marching from Custom House Quay to South King Street. Following the march, campaigners demonstrated outside a number of stores including Starbucks and Zara, which have faced calls for boycotts due to perceived support of Israel. The stores temporarily shuttered as protesters gathered peacefully outside. A Garda spokesman told Dublin Live the event passed off peacefully without incident and no offences were disclosed. He said: "Gardaí attended a public gathering in Dublin city centre this afternoon, Saturday 17 th January 2026. The gathering moved from Custom House Quay in Dublin 1 to King Street South in Dublin 2 between 1:00pm and 3:30pm. "Participants have since dispersed peacefully, without incident. No offences were disclosed. "There is a constitutional right to assemble peaceably, subject to statutory provisions. An Garda Síochána respects the right of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights subject to statutory provisions, including the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1984 amongst other legislation. "An Garda Síochána facilitates peaceful protest while protecting the rights of individuals to travel freely and commercial organisations to conduct business. "Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.