Irish stars to perform at anti-Bush gig

Top Irish musicians are joining together to play a major concert in aid of the anti-Bush campaign, it was revealed today.

The When Bush Comes to Shove gig is being organised by the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) to raise funds for mass protests during the US President’s visit to Ireland next month.

Christy Moore, Damien Rice, Mary Black, Kila and The Revs are among the artists who have offered to play for free at the Point Depot, Dublin on June 19.

The Stop Bush campaign is organising two protests during Mr Bush’s overnight stay at Dromoland Castle, Co Clare the following week.

Richard Boyd Barrett, IAWM chairman, is organising the gig. He claimed Mr Bush had lied to the world about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and said the recent torture revelations had confirmed how wrong the war in Iraq had been.

“The war has not liberated Iraq but plunged it from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein to the tyranny of a brutal occupation,” he said.

“Through protests and in every opinion poll the huge majority of people in this country have made clear their opposition to Bush’s war.

“They have also made clear their opposition to the continuing support being given to Bush by our Government in allowing Shannon to be used by the US military.”

He said the concert would be a platform to encourage tens of thousands to take to the streets in protest against Bush the following weekend.

The Point has a capacity of 8,500 and the IAWM is hoping the gig will send out a clear message from Ireland’s growing anti-war movement.

Mr Boyd Barrett also said he was at pains to emphasise that the gig was by no means anti-American as some in the pro-war lobby had claimed.

He said the night would see Iraqi, US and Irish anti-war activists speaking out together as a united international voice against war and occupation.

“As well as an important political event, this will be a great musical event in the great tradition of anti-war and protest music going back to the 1960’s and beyond,” he added.

“There has never been a more important time for musicians and indeed all sectors of society to make their voices heard against war and the dangerous direction in which George Bush is trying to take the world.”

Pressure was mounting on the Irish Government to cancel the president’s visit last week as all political parties made statements in the Dáil about the current situation in Iraq.

Green Party TD John Gormley described the entire war as an “unmitigated disaster” and claimed it was sowing the seeds for further terrorism.

Labour TD Michael D Higgins said protesting when Mr Bush visited the country was the only chance Irish people had to voice their outrage.

He described the most recent violence as “appalling” and said by staying silent Ireland was “degraded and shamed”.

There will be a Stop Bush demonstration in Dublin on June 25 and a second at Dromoland Castle on June 26.