Seamus O’Rourke and Saw Doctors star among new signatures of letter against Leitrim ‘far right’ festival, LARAF
Over 500 artists—including Pearse Doherty, Seamus O’Rourke, and Christy Moore—oppose Míse Éire festival, citing concerns over far-right affiliations and threats to the Mayflower’s inclusive legacy.
Pearse Dotherty of the Saw Doctors and Leitrim Comedian and Actor Seamus O’Rourke have joined over 500 other actors and musicians in signing a letter calling on the committee of the Mayflower Community Centre in Drumshanbo to cancel the Míse Éire festival—over concerns it will “tarnish the proud history” of the venue.
The extensive list of signatories includes national and Leitrim-based musicians, actors, and cultural figures such as Charlie McGettigan, Christy Moore, Mossie Martin, Edwina Guckian, Frances Black, John McCartin, Eleanor Shanley, Brian Kennedy, Fontaines D.C., Kneecap, The Mary Wallopers, and Chris O’Dowd.
Other musicians such as Mossie Martin (Leitrim Musician), Liam Cunningham (Actor), Fearghal McKee (Whipping Boy), Kevin McAleer (Actor), Mike Scott (The Waterboys) also signed the letter over the bank holiday Monday.
The letter adds to growing concerns voiced by local and national groups in recent weeks that the Míse Éire festival—billed as a celebration of Irish culture, heritage, and “shared values”—will act as a platform for anti-immigration speakers to spread fear and hate toward migrants.
“We believe the far-right 'Míse Éire Festival' will tarnish the proud history of the Mayflower as a venue that has served to bring people together from all backgrounds and as a safe and inclusive cultural space for the community,” reads the letter, which was circulated by LARAF over the bank holiday weekend.
The committee of the Mayflower community centre has not issued a statement in response to the letter or the observers request for comment at this time.
The letter, which has been sent to the Mayflower committee, describes the venue as having a “longstanding and rich tradition of hosting vibrant, uplifting, diverse and inclusive cultural events.”
“Musicians and artists—past and present—from the area, from across the country, and indeed from cultures around the world have passed through the doors of the Mayflower and contributed to this rich heritage.”
The appeal follows a street petition signed by over 260 people in Drumshanbo last week, also calling for the festival’s cancellation.
Míse Éire is organised by Stephen Kerr, an anti-immigration activist, former 2024 Mayo County Council candidate, and operator of the right-wing website The Irish Inquiry. Kerr has publicly stated he is “committed to ensuring the festival is a positive and inclusive event for all.”
Mr Kerr has criticised LARAF’s opposition to the event, writing on Facebook earlier this week:
“These dangerous radical lefties are trying everything to have our Irish music and cultural festival shut down.”
Mr Kerr was contacted for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.
The list of scheduled speakers at the event includes a growing number of right-wing activists and commentators, notably John Waters, a former Irish Times journalist and outspoken anti-immigration advocate.
Waters has promoted the "great replacement" theory and written on his Substack that Africans and Middle Easterners “can never be Irish,” describing them as “aliens who have no place or business here. At their hands, Ireland would soon unbecome itself, and lapse into rapid regression.”
At the time of publication, the Leitrim Observer has not been able to independently verified the 563 signatures on the letter. The full text of the letter is available here.