Activists plan protests at Powerscourt Hotel over Peter Thiel-backed event
Two summer dates have been proposed for action
Campaigners are planning two demonstrations at Powerscourt Hotel in Enniskerry, ahead of the controversial Dialog conference which is due to take place in August.
In a recent social media post, the North Wicklow Against Genocide group called on supporters to attend protests at the entrance to Powerscourt Estate on Sunday, July 12, and again on Sunday, August 9, both taking place at 2pm.
The group is urging Powerscourt Hotel not to host the event and has launched an online campaign under the slogan ‘Drop Dialog’, describing the planned conference as unacceptable because of its reported links to billionaire investor Peter Thiel and technology company Palantir.
Powerscourt Estate has previously said it would cancel the conference at Powerscourt Hotel, which it leases to operators MHL Group, if it had the power to do so. but the estate has a legally binding lease with MHL Hotels.
The demonstrations are expected to focus national attention
on the quiet village of Enniskerry in the weeks leading up to the conference, which has become the centre of growing controversy.
According to reports, the invitation-only Dialog gathering is due to take place at Powerscourt Hotel from August 12 to
16. The conference, co-founded by Mr Thiel in 2006, brings together leading figures from politics, technology, business and academia for off-the-record discussions.
International attention intensified after US technology magazine WIRED reported that leaked records linked to the organisation contained registration details and programme information relating to this year’s gathering.
The leaked material reportedly listed more than 200 invitees from around the world, including senior figures from politics, technology, defence and finance. RTÉ Prime Time has also reported that six Irish people, including a member of the Oireachtas, were among those invited.
The conference has attracted criticism due to Mr Thiel’s association with Palantir, the data analytics company he co-founded. Palantir has faced criticism from pro-Palestinian campaign groups over its work with the Israeli government.
Palantir has strongly rejected allegations made against it and said its work with the Israeli Ministry of Defence began only after the October 7, 2023 attacks.
In a response to the United Nations, the company said it complies with international and humanitarian law, denied supplying technology used for alleged AI targeting systems in Gaza, and said claims that it had aided or abetted genocide were “wholly false”.
Opposition to the event has also emerged locally, with Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady calling for the conference not to proceed. Deputy Brady said he did not believe the event should take place anywhere in Ireland, citing concerns over Mr Thiel’s links to Palantir and calling on the Government to clarify whether any ministers or State agencies had any involvement with the gathering.
A demonstration was held recently at Powerscourt Hotel, when activists infiltrated the foyer before being ejected, waving Palestinian flags and holding signs accusing organisers and hosts of complicity in war crimes.
The protesters said it was the beginning of the campaign to put a stop to the conference, and added “unannounced visits and disruption would continue” until it was cancelled.
An Garda Síochána was contacted to enquire if any special policing plans were being considered for the upcoming demonstrations and replied: “We don’t comment in advance of any potential hypothetical arrangement.”