Culture
22 Jun 20

Irish Women in Harmony for Safe Ireland: Loah's take on 'Dreams' and the effects of COVID-19 on domestic abuse survivors

Loah opens up about navigating the Irish music industry as a woman.

Loah really needs no introduction. She has been producing some of the most interesting music in Ireland for a number of years, and is a trailblazer in the industry in her own right. However, she still looks to Dolores O'Riordan as an idol. "As a woman in the industry, Dolores O'Riordan is a beacon and example of achieving success while maintaining total integrity," she notes.

"Dolores' art and her voice poured out so many of the dualistic qualities of feminine power – strength and vulnerabilty, nuance and directness, surrender and fierceness."

For Loah, participating in Irish Women in Harmony's cover of 'Dreams' was an "immediate yes, yes, yes!

"The idea that it would be all women also stuck out to me because there have been issues with a lack of representation of women in major national performances and fundraising efforts during these last couple of months. It felt fitting and powerful that Ruth-Anne took the reins to both address that imbalance and also support a great charity that works for and with women."

She's absolutely right. Women in the Irish industry have been all but left out of the conversation when it comes to songs for charity in the Coronavirus era. The reality of domestic abuse is that it affects predominately women and children, so it felt natural for the 30+ women on this single to choose to allocate the money it raised to Safe Ireland.

"While for many of us with great privileges, this period of time is at best a welcome break or at worst an inconvenience," Loah says. "For many this time is a form of imprisonment as their homes are not safe. It is so important that we support the people and charities who are doing their utmost to provide relief for those people and families."

The arts have certainly been hit hard by the Coronavirus, but for Loah, helping women begins within our own communities. "We need to protect, value and cherish women in our community across the board and put people’s safety above everything."