An anti-racist anthem for St Patricks Day
Leeson O'Keeffe | 23.02.2006 17:57 | Anti-racism
The perfect antidote to comedy Guinness hats and plastic shamrocks - a raucous anti racist St Pat's anthem Everybody's Welcome to the Hooley! by ceilidh-rockers Neck
MILITANT ENTERTAINMENT LTD
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed 00.01 hours
Friday 24th February 2006
SUPPORT GROWS FOR ANTI-RACIST ANTHEM FOR ST PAT’S
The unique campaign to push an anti-racist anthem into the charts for this years St Patrick’s Day is gathering momentum with a range of artists including Hard Fi, the Magic Numbers, Lethal Bizzel, Billy Bragg and the Strummerville organisation all giving their support to the initiative.
The song, Everybody’s Welcome to the Hooley! by North London ceilidh-rockers Neck, is released on the Militant Entertainment label – a spin off from Glastonbury Festival’s Left Field stage - on the 6th of March.
The release of the song has drawn in wide support from the music industry, the Irish community, the trade union movement and campaigns and the drive is on to push it into the top 40.
The song is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Lawrence and Anthony Walker – two black teenagers murdered because of the colour of their skin.
Anthony Walker’s sister, Dominique, said:
“Anthony loved music, and this project celebrates fighting racism by uniting people of all ages and races through music.”
Leeson O’Keeffe, a former member of Shane MacGowan’s band the Popes and lead singer with Neck, said:
“The songs visuals draw on the image of the sign in a guest house window from London in the 60’s saying NO IRISH, NO BLACKS, NO DOGS. It’s a reminder to Irish people both here and back home that they’ve been the victims of racism down the years and that we should be in the front line of the campaign against racism and intolerance today.”
ENDS
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed 00.01 hours
Friday 24th February 2006
SUPPORT GROWS FOR ANTI-RACIST ANTHEM FOR ST PAT’S
The unique campaign to push an anti-racist anthem into the charts for this years St Patrick’s Day is gathering momentum with a range of artists including Hard Fi, the Magic Numbers, Lethal Bizzel, Billy Bragg and the Strummerville organisation all giving their support to the initiative.
The song, Everybody’s Welcome to the Hooley! by North London ceilidh-rockers Neck, is released on the Militant Entertainment label – a spin off from Glastonbury Festival’s Left Field stage - on the 6th of March.
The release of the song has drawn in wide support from the music industry, the Irish community, the trade union movement and campaigns and the drive is on to push it into the top 40.
The song is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Lawrence and Anthony Walker – two black teenagers murdered because of the colour of their skin.
Anthony Walker’s sister, Dominique, said:
“Anthony loved music, and this project celebrates fighting racism by uniting people of all ages and races through music.”
Leeson O’Keeffe, a former member of Shane MacGowan’s band the Popes and lead singer with Neck, said:
“The songs visuals draw on the image of the sign in a guest house window from London in the 60’s saying NO IRISH, NO BLACKS, NO DOGS. It’s a reminder to Irish people both here and back home that they’ve been the victims of racism down the years and that we should be in the front line of the campaign against racism and intolerance today.”
ENDS
Leeson O'Keeffe