A GROUP OF Irish artists including actor Stephen Rea have launched a fundraising project to help an Irish ship join an international flotilla to Gaza later this year.

Dubbed the “Freedom Flotilla 2″, the ship will attempt to bring aid and support to the Gaza strip in late May to coincide with the first anniversary of the ill-fated Freedom Flotilla last year, in which nine activists died following clashes with Israeli forces on board.

Rea will join artists Robert Ballagh, Felim Egan, Guggi and Pat Harris to launch a fundraising project.

Each of the four leading artists are donating a piece of their artwork which is being made into a limited edition print that will be numbered, signed and available to purchase online.

Felim Egan will join the flotilla along with other notable figures including travel writer Dervla Murphy, Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews and his party colleague Senator Mark Daly, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, and People Before Profit councillor Richard Boyd Barrett.