After emerging as one of the big winners at this year's RTÉ Folk Awards, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin has returned with a new single, 'Siren Spring' – touching on the housing crisis, Gaza, and Irish politicians' decision to travel to Washington D.C. this St Patrick's Day.

In addition to his music, Eoghan is one of several political activists currently facing charges for their protests and direct actions in support of Palestine. Proceeds from the new track will go towards these activists' legal fees.

The Dublin singer describes 'Siren Spring' as "an attempt to put some of the feelings a lot of us have had in recent months into song."

"So many people I know have been struggling with soaring rents or facing eviction," he states. "Many of the same people have also been out protesting against Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the Irish Government’s inaction in the face of it. And this week, Leo Varadkar is over in the US to hand a bowl of shamrock over to Joe Biden, Israel’s primary backer.

"To me, all of these things – our housing crisis here at home, the genocide in Gaza, and our politicians heading over to Washington – are intimately connected," he continues. "So much of our housing crisis stems from the red carpet being rolled out to big investment funds that have bulk-bought property and jacked up rents. Now Varadkar will engage in a week of Paddy-Washing around St Patrick’s Day to make it clear that, even after 30,000 Palestinians have been murdered largely with American weapons, Ireland is still open for business.”

Speaking on the charges facing several activists, Eoghan claims that, in recent months, "Gardaí have been cracking down on Palestine solidarity activists who have engaged in protests and direct actions against Israel’s genocide in Gaza."

“Two of us were arrested at a peaceful BDS action on Grafton Street in February and charged under the Public Order Act," he says. "Another activist has been charged with criminal damage for allegedly throwing washable red paint on the Department of Foreign Affairs. Several others are also now being threatened with criminal charges for the peaceful, symbolic action of attempting to hand an eviction notice into the Israeli Embassy.

“This criminalisation of solidarity is happening at a time when the International Court of Justice has found a plausible case that Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza," he adds. "Under the Genocide Convention, there is a legal imperative for states to do everything in their power to stop the genocide. Instead, the Irish State is attempting to criminalise those who are doing what the State should be doing.”

Last month featured several major career milestones for Eoghan – including winning Best Folk Singer and Best Original Folk Track at the RTÉ Folk Awards; performing on The Tommy Tiernan Show, and sharing the stage with Christy Moore in Vicar Street.

'Siren Spring', recorded at Hellfire Studios with Alex Borwick, is available to purchase below: