Irish venue cancels “far-right” event after Kneecap, Fontaines D.C. and others sign open letter

An Irish venue has cancelled an event after an open letter signed by Kneecap and Fontaines D.C. warned it would be a platform for the “far-right”.

The Mayflower Community Centre in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim was set to host the Mise Éire Festival on August 23, but on Wednesday (August 6), they announced on Facebook that they would not be hosting the event due to “terms and conditions not being complied with”.

The decision followed an open letter circulated by Leitrim and Roscommon Against Fascism (LARAF), which was signed by approximately 600 artists and arts workers, including Kneecap, Fontaines D.C., Christy Moore, The Mary Wallopers and Chris O’Dowd.

The letter argued that the festival would “tarnish the proud history of the Mayflower as a venue”, a place they said has “brought people together from all backgrounds as a safe and inclusive cultural space for the community, for local schoolchildren and for all visitors to the area”.

It is believed that Stephen Kerr, a right-wing, anti-immigration activist in Ireland, was involved in the organisation of the festival, with controversial media figures including John Waters, Thomas Sheridan and Kevin Flanagan listed as planned speakers.

The festival was set to involve “live music, talks and workshops celebrating Irish culture, heritage and shared values”. LARAF, however, have suggested that this was a misrepresentation of the festival’s intentions.

As reported by Hot Press, the Mise Éire Festival has responded to the cancellation by writing: “As LARAF celebrates what they think is a successful attack on free speech and Irish culture is in fact the beginning of the demise of the true fascist movement that thinks it can dictate what grown adults do, think, say and feel.”

“It is a good time for them to understand why we chose the name Mise Éire which means ‘I am Ireland’. We ARE Ireland, our attendees ARE. These people cannot take away what is within us. Inherent and intrinsic and God given.”

Signatories (1 ) pic.twitter.com/E5g1fYSQnd

— EamonnVIDF 🏳️‍⚧️🍉 (@EamonnVIDF) August 5, 2025

It is the latest in a string of similar open letters signed by artists in 2025 in political protest at public events and festivals.

In May, over 60 artists signed a letter addressed to Sónar Festival, protesting their “complicity” with the private equity firm KKR, which holds significant investments in companies with ties to Israel amid the ongoing situation in Gaza.

Several names also withdrew from Field Day and many others urged action this year due to its own ties to KKR.

Just this week, The Menstrual Cramps pulled out of Boardmasters 2025, saying the festival had not met demands to “culturally boycott Israel”.