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2019 Eastwood Slams British Plans For Veteran’s ‘Amnesty’ Irish Stars Busk On Grafton Street
To Raise Money For Charity
25th, TBritish veterans who served very, very difficult Troubles. every single one of those vic-
he British Prime Minister’s … whatever they carried out in
tims, no matter who the perpe-
plans for an “amnesty” for Northern Ireland during our
trator was. People on opposite
December in Northern Ireland puts the peace “I come from a place called benches need to understand
this.
processatrisk,theleaderoftheSocial Derry, and in 1972 14 innocent
“If you begin with an
Democratic and Labour Party civil rights marchers were
(SDLP)haswarned. gunned down by the British amnesty for the British Army
| Colum Eastwood (Foyle) Army on the streets of Derry. you will end up with an
EXAMINER was the first of the newly elect- rights, they were marching amnesty for everybody.
“They were demanding their
ed cohort of MPs to make his
“That is the door that you’re
speech
opening up with this proposal.
against internment and an inter-
maiden
in
the
“So it would better suit this
IRISH Commons. national tribunal has stood by Prime Minister and this
the fact that they were innocent
Responding to the Queen’s
Speech, Mr Eastwood highlight-
and they were unlawfully killed.
Government to stand by all of
ed Government plans to “tackle “Is prosecuting those veter- the victims, all of the innocent
vexatious claims” against veter- ans vexatious? No, it is not. victims who have been search-
ans, particularly those who “We will resist this attempt ing for truth and justice for far
served in Northern Ireland, and to undermine our peace process too long.” C A host of Irish singers gathered in Dublin this evening for
“seek better ways of dealing and our political the traditional Christmas Eve busk.
with legacy issues that provide progress and this The event, which raises money for the Simon Community
better outcomes for victims and insult to victims, every year, saw Glen Hansard, Imelda May, Hudson Taylor
survivors”. all of the victims and more preform.
He claimed that alongside of our terrible, Some several thousand people braved the cold outside
Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, such terrible past, and Gaiety Theatre in South King Street in the heart of the city’s
a policy threatens peace in the opportunity shopping district.
Northern Ireland. that has been A number of volunteers from the Simon Community
He told MPs: “Equally dam- denied to them passed buckets around the crowd encouraging people to
aging to our progress and our since 1998 to donate to the homeless charity.
peace process is the current pro- find full truth Imelda May was one of those who urged people to donate
posal to basically give an and full justice. what they could to a homeless charity as “everyone deserves
amnesty for British soldiers for “We stand by a home”.
The singer recited a poem called Home, before encourag-
ing the crowd to dig into their pockets.
“Whatever you think this gig is worth then donate it to
the Simon Community,” she said.
“I’ve donated, I always do.
“We all deserve a home.”
Singer and The Frames frontman Glen Hansard organised
the annual Christmas Eve busking event, which attracts
thousands of people every year.
The Dublin singer said: “We organize this busking for the
homeless and we send out about 100 messages and around 20
people show up.
“These are all the Dublin musicians who show up and give
up their time.”
He kicked the event off with the song, Revelation.
Hudson Taylor, who have recently performed at
Whelan’s and 3Arena, were joined onstage by their sister
Holly and the Coronas’ Danny O’Reilly.
The Hudson brothers, who used to busk on Grafton
Street, appealed to the public to give to the Simon
Community.
They sang their newly released single, How I Know It’s
Christmas.
Among those on stage were Freddie Mercury imperson-
ator Brian Keville, who sang Crazy Little Thing Called Love,
while Stephen James Smith recited poetry about Christmas
and festivities.
Described as Ireland’s finest, Liam O Maonlai performed a
number of songs as-Gaeilge (Irish), including a duet with
Glen Hansard and Imelda May.
John Francis Flynn sang a few Dubliner’s song while
singer-songwriter Mundy sang Bob Dylan’s Like A Rolling
Stone.
Glen Hansard told the crowd that while some people
might have been expecting particular singers to perform,
they never know who will participate on the night.
All the artists sang Fairy Tale Of New York to bring an end
to the busk. C