Musicians, singers and activists came together in the Fair Green at the Feakle Festival for a music session to highlight the plight of the people of Gaza and Palestine more widely.
The event was organised by the Clare branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in conjunction with the festival organising committee.
Manager of Cuimhneamh an Chláir Oral History Project and Clare FM presenter Paula Carroll chaired the event, which drew a crowd of several hundred.
Around 25 musicians, who are the cream of the East Clare trad scene, played for three hours for the crowd, and they were joined by the Clare choral group Éisteacht, who raise awareness of Palestine through song. They have performed at numerous events in Clare and other counties and performed at Electric Picnic last year.
The crowd were also entertained by Xiquitsi, a visiting group of singers and musicians from Mozambique. The group’s performance included the hymn God Bless Africa, which became famous as the post-apartheid national anthem of South Africa.
Singer Michael Landers sang some beautiful ballads and Eamon from the Netherlands performed an original composition.
The wonderful music was interspersed with speeches reminding the audience of the horrors being endured by the people of Gaza and the West Bank. Paula Carroll as chairperson and Cllr Pat Hayes of the Feakle Festival committee, both spoke of the ongoing genocide of Gaza and theft of Palestinian land in the West Bank, and called on people to keep campaigning for aid to be delivered and an end to the lsraeli onslaught.
Claire Ni Grianna spoke on behalf of the Clare branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and thanked all the performers for their generosity in giving their time and sharing their talents for free. She also thanked the audience for attending, the Feakle Festival committee for supporting the initiative and everyone who worked to make it a success.