Kneecap’s Mo Chara says it was ‘no brainer’ to pull out of SXSW festival over links to US military

Irish artists including Gavin James, Mick Flannery, Soda Blonde and Sprints have all pulled out of the festival.

‘Always’ singer Gavin James said he “will never support any event that is associated with weapons of war” as he announced his withdrawal, while Flannery said he does not wish to be associated with “weapons manufacturers”.

Belfast trio Kneecap are also boycotting the event, citing solidarity with the people of Palestine and the “unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the US military”.

In a statement, they acknowledged the financial impact of pulling out on the band but said it “isn’t an iota of hardship when compared with the unimaginable suffering being inflicted” on the people of Gaza.

“It was a no-brainer once this information started coming to light,” said Mo Chara.

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Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland, he said it is “good to be on the right side of history as Irish people”.

He said he was “proud” to see other Irish artists join the boycott and it “sends a very clear message and you know the Irish people will always be in solidarity with the Palestinian people.”

He said the band did not want to support the festival by “having our name on a poster or having our name associated with that festival”.

"It’s also bringing people – I know there were people who had tickets to come see us at the festival – it’s gathering more crowds to come to this festival to see certain bands and I think it does better for the festival us being there than not being there.”

On the fact that some fans bought tickets to see the band who now will not appear at SXSW, he said: “Well, if I know my fans like I think I do, I think they’ll be very supportive of our decision.”

Media Minister Catherine Martin is due to attend a number of events, some of which form part of the SXSW festival, in Austin, Texas on Wednesday as part of the Government's St Patrick’s Day programme.

On her attendance at the event, Mo Chara said the band are “not here to speak on behalf of other people or say who should and shouldn’t go”.

He said he thinks Ms Martin could be “standing at the Irish stage on her own seeing as there’s no Irish acts playing anymore”.

"But if she’s using their platform to speak out against it, then all the power to her.”

He said the financial impact of withdrawing from the festival is a “minor hiccup in our careers in comparison to what’s actually happening in Gaza”.

"Everybody can pla.y their part, our part this time was pulling out of a gig, taking a bit of a financial hit but the whole country can play their part whether it’s attending rallies or boycotting is really good.

"All we did was pull out of a gig. Yes, we lost a bit of money but it’s priceless to do the right thing.”

Yesterday, spokesperson for the Department of Media said: "Ireland House at SXSW is a collaboration between Ireland’s Consulates in Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Music from Ireland, as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"The programme of events at Ireland House will include a panel discussion on Basic Income for the Arts, in respect of which the Department paid $8,000, the standard registration fee for a panel discussion at SXSW.”