Drum lessons to promote Irish Aid at festival

The Government will be offering free drumming lessons to attract revellers to its Irish Aid stand at the Electric Picnic music festival.

The overseas development unit, which spent around €900m on humanitarian projects last year, is hoping to promote its work among young people.

Music fans can also find African tribal masks and T-shirts at the Irish Aid stand, which will be run by Department of Foreign Affairs staff.

In another first, Irish Aid also aims to exhibit at the National Ploughing Championships in Co Kilkenny next month to increase public awareness of its work among rural communities.

Last May, Irish Aid hosted Africa Day – a mini music festival in Dublin Castle which featured Irish and African acts including Mundy, Sinead O’Connor, the Republic Of Loose and the Discovery Gospel Choir.

Other NGOs such as Concern Worldwide, Amnesty International and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties will also be exhibiting at Electric Picnic.

The three-day boutique festival in Stradbally, Co Laois features the Sex Pistols, Goldfrapp, Franz Ferdinand and Grace Jones.