Irish Women in Harmony for Safe Ireland: Eve Belle on Safe Ireland

Donegal native Eve Belle – purveyor of sorrowful indie pop tunes – has built herself a steady following despite her youth. "As a young, Irish, female singer-songwriter," Belle notes, "role models have been and continue to be essential to my motivation." Starting out in a male-dominated field, Belle would look to the example of Dolores O'Riordan to help her navigate uncharted waters.

"Dolores O'Riordan was a truly talented woman who did not compromise on who she was or what she wanted to do. Her memory serves to remind me that women have a place in music and that when we come up against barriers, we must remain resilient and confident in our abilities. She inspires me to create material that is true to my experience as a woman, to write for myself, and to believe the words that I sing," says Belle. "I am also grateful for the fact that her legacy will continue to encourage young women and girls to take their well-earned places in the music industry, and that her voice will continue to inspire budding songwriters to sing what's in their hearts."

Participating in this single has an added bonus for Eve Belle. Safe Ireland is an organisation close to her heart, and when she was asked to perform on the Irish Women in Harmony single, she was overjoyed. "To be given the chance to be part of raising both funds and awareness for such an important charity was wonderful," she says.

"Domestic abuse is a widespread problem in this country. With the pandemic forcing people to stay at home, several escape routes for victims of domestic abuse have been closed. It is vital that we do not forget about these victims, that we innovate and come up with new ways to help and support them. It is imperative that we loudly and visibly demonstrate that they are not alone, that there is help there for them, that we raise awareness and end the stigma around domestic abuse. The pandemic has drawn attention to a lot of the social and economic disparities in this country. When the pandemic ends, we cannot brush what we have learned back under the mat. We must support victims, now and always."

Belle is adamant that those experiencing domestic violence understand from hearing this single that they are not alone. "There is a way out," the impassioned singer says. "I also hope it raises awareness of the prevalance of domestic violence in this country. This is an issue we need to approach with open minds, free from judgement. We need to dismantle the stigma and make the world a kinder place for victims, a place where they're not afraid to ask for support".