TWO prominent Donegal musicians have added their voices to calls for Ireland not to send an entrant to next month’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Thousands of high profile names world-wide, including Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Brian Eno and filmmakers Ken Loach and Mike Leigh, have signed a petition backing an appeal from Palestinian artists for a boycott of the competition being staged in Israel.
The petition states that “We, the undersigned artists from Europe and beyond, support the heartfelt appeal from Palestinian artists to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 hosted by Israel”.
They add that there should be “no business-as-usual” with Israel until Palestinians can enjoy “freedom, justice and equal rights”.
Among those to add their names to the call for a boycott are Donegal musicians Mick Blake and Charlie McGettigan.
Charlie McGettigan shot to fame in 1994 when he and Paul Harrington won the Eurovision Song Contest with their song Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids.
He says Ireland would be “making a statement” by not sending an act to Tel Aviv on May 14.
Letterkenny’s Mick Blake previously wrote a song, Another Child, Another War, in support of the people of Palestine.
He told the Donegal News Ireland should “definitely boycott” this year’s Eurovision because of where it is being staged.
LGBT campaigners have heaped further pressure on the Irish act chosen to represent Ireland in Israel.
Gay rights activists wrote to County Clare singer Sarah McTernan this week asking her not to make the journey in protest at Israel’s practice of ‘Pinkwashing’.
Campaigners wrote, “Pinkwashing is a PR tactic used by Israel which cynically exploits support for LGBT-QIA people to whitewash its oppression of the people of Palestine.”
With the countdown on to Eurovision 2019, Charlie McGettigan said there was still an opportunity for Ireland to “make a statement” on behalf of Palestine.
“I’m not happy with our participation because it is being held in Israel where the ongoing conflict between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian people is causing misery for thousands of people there.
Former Eurovision winner, Ballyshannon musician Charlie McGettigan.
“I feel that if we as a country were not to perform we would be showing our solidarity with the plight of the Palestinian people and the need for the Israeli Government to desist from their behaviour,” the Ballyshannon singer added.
Mick Blake said in his opinion Ireland does not want to upset the USA, traditionally a big supporter of Israel.
He said though that he feels there is “good reason” for Ireland to give the annual contest a miss.
“I really think there should be a boycott and I’m sure anyone who knows a bit about the situation would agree. I think sometimes you have take a stand and show your horror at what is happening over there,” the Letterkenny man said.
Mick Blake said he “felt sorry” for the Irish entrant Sarah McTernan as her participation would in all likelihood follow her throughout her career.
“Personally I feel we should be definitely boycotting it and unfortunately I don’t think the girl is aware of the political aspects of what is happening,” he said.
“I feel sorry for her in many ways because it is what she is going to be remembered for.”
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