CASTLEFINN musician Matt McGranaghan will meet Taoiseach, Micheál Martin and Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar today when he will attend an important meeting to push for the reopening of the live music industry. The fiddle player along with other members of the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) want answers from the government leaders following the revelation from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Tony Holohan last week that he would have no issue with vaccinated people attending outdoor events such as Electric Picnic.

Speaking to the Donegal News Mr McGranaghan said there are a lot of questions that need to be asked and answered.

“What was divulged by the CMO put a very different spin on it in relation to outdoor events. Had we received that advice from the CMO back in June things would have been different. Even at local level small towns in Donegal would have been able to put outdoor events on in some manner.”

A meeting was due to take place with Minister for Culture and the Arts, Catherine Martin last Wednesday but that was postponed until today with confirmation that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste will attend.

Anger within the industry grew last week following the emergence of a video of fans gathered on the streets around Croke Park ahead of the All-Ireland senior hurling final. The video showed crowds gathered on Portland Place in the hours before throw-in. The video was shared tens of thousands of times online, just hours after Minister, Simon Coveney defended the 40,000 strong crowd in attendance at Croke Park amid frustration that restrictions have not been eased for the entertainment industry.

“It is very conflicting. At the end of the day sport and the GAA means so much to people in this country and I understand that. It gives so much to so many people from kids right up to 100 year olds,” said Mr McGranaghan.

“It is great to see people attending Croke Park but you to have question the conditions of entering Croke Park. We just want our industry open, an industry that so many livelihoods are based. We want to be given the same level of respect and regard that was given to sport and that is not taking anything away from sport. That level of passion for GAA, that same level of passion is there for the arts, music and entertainment industry. It never should have been one or the other.”

Mr McGranaghan said an explanation is needed at today’s meeting as to why the industry has been treated as it has in recent weeks. They want to see a date for reopening and they want to see that happen in a safe and responsible manner. As we face cuts to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) from September 7 the industry is calling for supports to be maintained.

Mr McGranaghan said thirty per cent of the workforce in the industry are on PUP and will be forced to move to job seekers allowance if the payment is cut. This will mean they cannot be engaged in self-employment which he described as absurd.

“We need to see a deliberate change. This industry can’t be switched on overnight. It naturally has its own lead in time. Even the most basic event in a local theatre would take six to eight weeks for planning, promotion, selling and setting up,” he added.