The introduction of the Eighth Amendment into the Irish Constitution in 1983 “was a remarkable feat by a small group of Catholic right-wing conservatives.” After a bitter referendum battle, the anti-abortion legislation was passed 66.9% to 33.1% in September 1983.
The leading ‘Anti-Amendment Campaign’ was supported by the ‘Anti-Amendment Music’ sub-group which included more than sixty of the country’s leading musicians, singers, actors, comedians, journalists, DJs and poets. It is worth remembering their names and the sacrifices that they took back in a society which is very different to ours in 2018.
The Irish Press, 8 Sep 1982.
Some of the big names who backed the cause were Paul Brady, Moya Brennan (Clannad), Adam Clayton (U2), Paul Cleary (The Blades), Bob Geldof and Christy Moore.
Others who nailed their flags to the mast included:
Bands: Auto Da Fe, Back to Back, Dr Strangely Strange, High Heeled Sneakers, The Lee Valley String Band, Les Enfants, Max, Nine Out Of Ten Cats, Scullion, The Shade, Stepaside, Stockton’s Wing, Tokyo Olympics
Singers/Musicians: Sonny Condell, Jimmy Crowley, Keith Donald (Moving Hearts), Mick Hanly, Honor Heffernan, Donal Lunny, Ferdia MacAnna (The Rhythm Kings), Barry Moore (aka Luka Bloom), Maura O’Connell (ex. De Danann), Red Peters (1946-2012), Noel Shine, John Spillane, Jil Turner (Eugene), Freddie White, Gay Woods
Actresses: Kathleen Barrington, Carol Caffrey, May Cluskey (1927-91), Ingrid Craigie, Nuala Hayes, Annie Kilmartin
DJs/Presenters: BP Fallon, Dave Fanning, Carolyn Fisher
Comedians: Billy Magra, Dermot Morgan (1952-98), Helen Morrissey, Roisin Sheeran
1982 saw a host of fundraising gigs in some of the capital city’s best venues.
13 September: The Blades, Paul Brady and DJ Dave Fanning at The Baggot Inn
The Irish Times, 22 Sep 1982
30 September: Some Kind of Wonderful, BP Fallon and Max at McGonagles
9 October: The Rhythm Kings and High Heeled Sneakers at The Baggot Inn
Paul Brady, Mary Robinson and Ferdia McAnna. The Irish Independent, 8 Se 1982.
14 October: Comedy gig with compere Billy Magra at The Sportman’s Inn, Mount Merrion
Anti-Amendment Music – Rock against the Referendum (1982). Uploaded by Student History Ireland Project.
Things picked up again in 1983:
21 April: Unknown acts at Owen O’Callaghan’s (Mark’s Bar), Crowe Street, Dundalk, County Louth
July: The small concert hall in RDS hosted singers Honor Heffernan, Moya Brennan (Clannad), Maura O’Connell (ex. De Danann), comedian Helen Morrissey, actress May Cluskey who performed from her show ‘Mothers’ and actresses Nuala Hayes and Ingrid Craigie staged the “total 30-hour Oireachtas debate on the amendment in 15 minutes flat”. The MC on the night was RTÉ presenter Carolyn Fisher.
Evening Herald, 05 June 1983.
July: Auto Da Fe with Gay Woods, Barry Moore (aka Luka Bloom) and Scullion at Stephen’s Green.
In August 1983, the campaign hosted a press conference with Christy Moore, Keith Donald (Moving Hearts), Paul Cleary (The Blades), Adam Clayton (U2), Ferdia MacAnna (The Rhythm Kings), Jill Turner (Eugene) and Maura O’Connell. It was chaired by Senator Michael D. Higgins. Adam Clayton said: “It is like a witch hunt with people going around saying who is a slut and who isn’t”. Paul Brady told the press that “he agreed with Senator Robinson that there were ‘subterranean rumblings’ to try to take Ireland back to an era which he for one was glad was gone”. Finally Ferdia MacAnna remarked that the amendment would be “as much use as outlawing sex in this country which has been tried before by repressive education”
The Irish Press, 27 Aug 1983.
The last two gigs took place in Dublin and Cork in August 1983.
On 28 August, on the same day that Black Sabbath played Dalymount Park, Paul Cleary, Les Enfants, Donal Lunny, Stepaside, Red Peters, Mick Hanly, Keith Donald (Moving Hearts), Nine Out Of Ten Cats were advertised to play outdoors at Blackrock Park. While in Cork, Jimmy Crowley, The Lee Valley String Band, Noel Shine, John Spillane were listed to play at the Coolquay venue.
If you have any more information or material from the Anti-Amendment Music campaign, please get in touch!