He said Israel's genocidal onslaught against the civilian population of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 40,000 Palestinians.

The tradition first began in 1952 when the Irish Ambassador sent a box of shamrock to the then president Harry Truman.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signalled a ground invasion in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

Local people affected by the suffering in Gaza, are asked to make their support known at an event in Monaghan.

Deputy Carthy called on the government to change its position

Using the 19th century "It came upon a midnight clear" hymn as a theme, the bishops said it has a "timely message for us amidst the conflicts in Israel and Gaza and Ukraine.

Cavan County Council recently unanimously supported a motion to call for a "total ceasefire" in Gaza.