(Author’s Note: I forwarded the open letter calling for the cancellation of the first Mise Éire Festival’s booking at the Mayflower Community Centre to musicians I know to sign. I did not participate in any subsequent efforts to cancel Mise Éire events at commercial venues.)
The organisers of the controversial Mise Éire Festival have launched defamation proceedings against Ocean FM, broadcaster Niall Delaney and activist Meryl McGowan over a radio interview in which they allege McGowan defamed them.
Stephen Kerr and Roy Deal are the directors of Saoirse Sessions Ltd., trading as Mise Éire, the company behind the Mise Éire Festival originally scheduled to take place at the Mayflower Community Centre in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim last year.
The event was billed as an Irish cultural festival for “those who cherish Irish culture and heritage, and are united in celebrating our shared values”, but local activists accused the organisers of using Irish culture as a front for a far-right political event.
Following a local petition and an open letter signed by hundreds of Irish musicians, the committee of the Mayflower announced the booking had been cancelled, citing a failure by the organisers to comply with terms and conditions.
Continue reading “Mise Éire Festival Organisers Sue Ocean FM and Leitrim Activist for Defamation”
Left in the Lurch 