Indiependence promoter Shane Dunne writes open letter to Micheál Martin warning of mass concert industry redundancies

He should have been presiding over Cork's Indiependence festival this weekend, but instead promoter Shane Dunne has written an impassioned open letter to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin accusing him and the Government of abandoning the live music industry professionals who are part of a €3.5 billion per annum industry.

"Hey Micheál Martin, I just wanted to introduce myself, I ran six shows on behalf of the promoter in Musgrave Park last summer," Dunne says by way of introduction. "Generated 100s of thousands in VAT, employed 100s of people and generated millions for Cork City. I just wanted to let you know that of the ten SMEs that supplied us on those shows, seven of them reckon they will be out of business by September 1st. SEVEN companies employing 100s of staff due to your inaction in relation to the Live Entertainment Sector. This years shows are rescheduled to 2021. They will bring over 100,000 people in to Cork City, generate in excess of one million in VAT, fill every hotel room for a fortnight, every bar, every restaurant. That’s as long as we have SMEs and skilled staff to run the shows, which we won’t if you continue with your current insane attack on the SMEs of Ireland and the Live Entertainment Sector as a whole. I hope the wider tourism sector in Cork City is aware of the amount of business you are going to deprive them of."

When challenged by somebody asking "what about people's health?" Dunne clarified: "Not asking to do shows, asking for a sector worth €3.5 billion to the economy to be supported until it’s safe to return to work."

The Riptide Movement, who've confirmed the August 21 release of new single 'Fall A Little More In Love', add: "The future of our Irish music industry is really in a perilous state, our government needs to take notice and listen to what's happening on the ground."

Adds David Keenan: "The PUP was created for those who cannot return to work, it is not a handout, why is the Arts and all who embody it being pissed on?"