A controversial ‘far-right’ music festival has been cancelled after Kneecap, Christy Moore, Chris O’Dowd, and some 600 other prominent Irish artists reportedly signed an open letter calling for its cancellation.
The ‘Mise Éire Festival’ was planned for August 23, in the Mayflower Community Hall in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.
A far-right rally planned in Cork for that day was reportedly set to be cancelled to allow supporters to travel to the festival.
On Wednesday, a message on the Mayflower’s social media said: “On behalf of Mayflower Community Centre CLG we regretfully wish to inform the public that the upcoming ‘Mise Éire’ festival due to be held on 23rd August, 2025, will NOT be hosted at the Mayflower Community Centre.
“This is due to terms & conditions not being complied with. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
It comes as a “torrent” of people had signed the open letter from Leitrim and Roscommon against Fascism (LARAF) since it was circulated on Friday.
“People got the fact that the far-right were trying to throw their weight around and make their way into community spaces,” Eamonn of LARAF said. “The Mayflower has a longstanding tradition as a music venue. And it’s the community hall in Drumshanbo.
“It was an absolute outpouring from the music and arts community.
“They [festival organisers] were trying to portray it as a nice little music festival but it was apparent that it was a far-right event.
“A far-right protest in Cork was cancelled that day to allow people to travel up to Drumshanbo. A host of far-right actors were promoting the event online.”
LARAF began circulating the short open letter on Friday, asking those concerned with the Mayflower situation consider signing it.
Artists who signed include Charlie McGettigan, Vincent Woods, Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Frances Black, Mary Coughlan, Fontaines DC, Mike Scott of The Waterboys and The Mary Wallopers.
The letter said: “The Mayflower Community Centre in Drumshanbo has a longstanding and rich tradition of hosting vibrant, uplifting, diverse and inclusive cultural events.
“Musicians and artists, past and present, from the area, from across the country and indeed from countries and cultures from across the world, have passed through the doors of the Mayflower and contributed to this rich heritage.
“If it is permitted to go ahead, we believe the far-right ‘Mise Éire Festival’ will tarnish the proud history of the Mayflower as a venue that has served to bring people together from all backgrounds and as a safe and inclusive cultural space for the community, for local schoolchildren and for all visitors to the area.
“We artists, arts workers and musicians thus call on the committee of the Mayflower Community Centre to cancel this divisive event, which is planned to take place there on August 23rd.”
LARAF said the festival was “in fact a lightly disguised far-right rally in the main hall, with music in a side area, which is advertised as having a full bar available.”