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ROADMAP WEAR RED DAY BLACK BOYS ON MOPEDS On Thur
sday, the 21st of March, stand with all the right minded people who cannot tolerate racism, and wear red. Wear Red Day is an initiative by the Immigrant Council, inviting schools, businesses, clubs and community groups across Ireland to wear red, and to help fundraise for the fight against racism in Ireland.Over 120 schools and businesses took part in the initiative last year, and this year looks sure to repeat that success. Brian Killoran, CEO at the Immigrant Council said: “Wear Red Day is an important opportunity for schools, businesses, sports clubs and community groups alike to send out a strong message that they will continue to challenge racism in all forms. It is a shared responsibility across society, in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities, to ensure that an anti-racism ethos is maintained throughout the year.” The Immigrant Council is encouraging people to share their Wear Red Day participation on social media with the #WRD24 hashtag. CABL / NERVES /AFFECTION TO RENT This truly stacked bill sees shoegaze skewed rock quartet CABL (pictured below) and fuzzy pioneers Nerves co headline the Grand Social for a dizzyingly abstract evening of joyful noise . CABL’s ‘See You In A Year and a Half ’ and the imminent ‘Glórach’ EP from Nerves are early contenders for my favorite releases of the year, and this evening, with Dublins Affection to Rent kicking off proceedingis sure to be one of the shows I’m still talking about at the end of 2024. The Grand Social, April 6th Fight Like Apes have recorded the seminal Black Boys On Mopeds, written by Sinéad O’Connor and released on her second album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, released in 1990. All proceeds of this release will be donated to Lajee Centre, Aida Refugee Camp, Occupied West Bank, Palestine. MayKay writes, “I was in Aida refugee camp in the Occupied West Bank of Palestine when I heard Sinéad O’Connor had died. There was no-one there that didn’t know who she was and why she was so important. We had a sing song late into that night on the roof, Irish people singing Sinéad songs, Palestinian people singing beautiful folk songs in arabic. Back when she released this song in 1990, like most things she did, it was so brave to speak the way she did. Truly brave. She was mocked, ostracised and shamed. Because of her and her relentless energy for speaking truth to power, it’s not dangerous these days for people like us to speak out. She paved the way. We owe this to her.” Jamie Fox adds, ‘It’s very sad that this song is as, if not more, relevant today as it was when was released 34 years ago. Black boys on Mopeds is a prayer for shared humanity, a prayer from Sinéad that her child wouldn’t have to live in a world that was unjust and devoid of compassion. If you don’t want to play our version, play Sinéad’s version and listen.’ All proceeds will go directly to Lajee Centre, Aida Refugee Camp in the Occupied West Bank, an organisation that is working to help the people of Palestine. If you wish to make a further donation:lajee.org/donate This song will be performed live at the Fight Like Apes show at The Olympia Theatre on April 6th. 6