.
Tommy McCarthy of Jack Macs, musicians Martin Hurley and Shane Murphy and Johnny McCarthy of Paddy Macs, at the protest in The Square on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
MUSICIANS from the Tralee area and beyond gathered in the Square on Wednesday afternoon, in a show of solidarity after the difficulties they have faced since the beginning of the pandemic.
They were joined by local publicans and business owners who supported them in their call for clarity and guidance in terms of when they can get back to work in hotels, bars and venues, as society prepares to open further in July.
Ross Brassil from Tralee organised the ‘Kerry Music Industry Stands Up’ protest and was pleased with the support. However, on a morning when news was coming through that the government may have to review hospitality opening up further on July 5 due concerns about the Delta Variant, it became clear that the prospect of good news was far off.
Continued below…
.
“This morning’s comments from Minister Stephen Donnelly don’t fill me with confidence,” said Ross. “I know we’re not getting back to work on July 5 when the pubs reopen, but we need some sort of guidance.”
Musician John Connolly also hoped some announcement would be forthcoming. While John said he is lucky he has a plumbing business to fall back on, he said he missed the social side of the business.
Musicians at the protest in The Square on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Ken Tobin
“I was gigging two or three nights a week and you’d miss that interaction with the audience and fellow musicians. They need to get back to work. You have 20 or 30 people sitting outside bars and there’s no reason why you couldn’t have a musician playing there. While there is the money side of it, it’s also my therapy. You get out and meet people. It’s my great joy in life and we just don’t have it anymore.”
John Connolly, Estrella Oronoz and Lena Saverkane at the protest in The Square on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
John said it wasn’t just musicians affected. “I’m a drummer and I buy my gear in Hugh Culloty’s here in town. There’s about 1o other drummers who buy also sticks and skins, not to mention guitarists. They haven’t had our business for 16 months,” said John.
Fellow musician, Joe O’Shea of Tralee band Renovator said it’s been a tough time for many.
“It’s totally decimated the industry and the problem is we can’t see the end point. We need the government to tell us when the music can come back to pubs and hotels so we can plan towards that,” said Joe.
Joe O’Shea and Aidan O’Shea of Renovator with Tadhg O’Shea at the protest in The Square on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
“We’re over 15 months into it. Musicians also invest heavily in their equipment so there’s loans to pay off,” he added.
Martin Hurley is also well-known from playing in bars and at functions around the county.
“The musicians here, their primary income is working in bars. The fact that they can’t get clarity is very upsetting,” said Martin who isn’t hopeful of good news on Friday week when the Government make an announcement about lifting restrictions.
“The last thing that they are going to do is let music back into bars. They say it’s a public health issue but I don’t understand that. If you can have fans at a match or kids in school, why can’t you have a musician in the corner playing?”
Reidun Schlesinger and Ross Brassil at the protest in The Square on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Martin refuted the argument, put forward by the Government, that having music at bars could result in people singing or talking at a higher volume, thus increasing the risk of spreading the virus.
“I was outside a bar two weeks ago and the place was packed with people, having fun and talking really loud to be heard. If there was a musician there, it wouldn’t have made any difference to how loud they were talking,” said Martin.
