Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin traveled to Poland today, Monday, January 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day - to join other world leaders at a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
“Today, we remember the unique horrors of the Holocaust, in particular the extermination of 6 million Jews from across Europe in the Nazi death camps," the Taoiseach said ahead of Monday's ceremony.
"We remember also the Roma, the disabled, the political dissidents, the members of the LGBTQ community, and all who were persecuted and murdered without mercy in the camps.
“It is a particular honour to be here at what is probably the last significant anniversary at which survivors of the camps will be present in person. Though they are now all advanced in years, their memories of what happened in the camps - the profound loss of their family members and the destruction of Europe’s vibrant Jewish communities - remain crystal clear and vivid.
“We owe it to them to ensure that now, and for all generations to come, we remember and say never again."
Today, on International Holocaust Memorial Day, we mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Today, we remember the horrors of the Holocaust, and ensure that now, and for all generations to come, we remember and say never again. pic.twitter.com/XjlVyi6IwW
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 27, 2025
The Taoiseach continued: “Today is also International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the event I am attending at Auschwitz will recommit us to denouncing and combating antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, intolerance, racism, and xenophobia.
“In recent years, we have witnessed a shocking rise in antisemitism and Holocaust denial, both online and offline. I take this issue very seriously and the government will continue to work at home and with international partners to tackle all forms of discrimination, including antisemitism.
"In this spirit, we recently endorsed the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. We will also continue our close relationship with the Jewish community in Ireland and ensure that their concerns are heard.
“In Auschwitz, people from across the world shall gather once again to ensure we never forget.”
The main commemoration on Monday is being hosted in a special tent that has been built over the gate to the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp. One of the symbols of the commemoration will be a freight car that will stand directly in front of the gate.
Also on Monday, Ireland's Tánaiste Simon Harris announced a €50k donation to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, which Ireland has supported through their Perpetual Capital Fund since 2013, usually through an annual contribution.
The donation will support "ongoing work to ensure the preservation of the site and artefacts of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp for future generations," Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said.
"The €50,000 contribution is in recognition of the particular resonance of the occasion as survivors gather in Auschwitz to mark 80 years since the liberation of the Camp in 1945 and in memory of the over one million Jewish people, and others, who were murdered there, and the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust," the Department added.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “It is essential that we learn the lessons of the Holocaust and continue to uphold its terrible truth against those who deny it.
“At a time of a global rise in antisemitism, I am committed to working with my colleagues across Government, and with Ireland’s Jewish community, to give effect to the commitment in the Programme for Government regarding measures to counter antisemitism.”
He added: “Ireland is committed to supporting the preservation of this place of memory, and to safeguarding the education of future generations on the reality of the Holocaust, avoiding recurrence of conflict and promoting peacebuilding and tolerance.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs added: "Ireland has a longstanding commitment to Holocaust Remembrance and is a strong supporter of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Charter for Safeguarding Sites, which helps protect all authentic sites of the Holocaust and ensures the future of remembrance."
Comments