Cast out them demons: Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir coming to Ireland

Rev Billy has long protested against Trump and consumerism, while also providing comfort to spiritual refugees. He’s now bringing his choir to Ireland, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

Before construction began on Trump Tower in 1979, Donald Trump was granted permission by the City of New York to build the top 20 storeys of the 58-floor building in exchange for maintaining a publicly accessible garden on the fifth floor.

Since March, a curious figure can be seen in this garden, with blow-dried blonde hair, a white linen suit and a dog collar: it’s Reverend Billy and his Stop Shopping Choir. The group of activists and performers are staging a regular “secular prayer service” in protest against Trump’s presidency and against specific actions of his administration in the public garden, accompanied by their attorney to explain the legitimacy of their presence to security guards.