Leitrim venue cancels "far-right" festival following letter signed by KNEECAP, Fontaines D.C., Christy Moore

A Leitrim venue has called off the Mise Éire Festival following an open letter demanding the "far-right" event be cancelled.  Signatories include KNEECAP, Fontaines D.C., Christy Moore and around 600 other Irish artists and arts workers.

In a Facebook post yesterday, the Mayflower Community Centre in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim announced they would no longer be hosting the festival "due to terms & conditions not being complied with." The post did not specify which terms and conditions were breached.

The Mise Éire Festival was planned for the Mayflower on August 23, with over 400 tickets reportedly sold. The festival's Facebook page said it involved "live music, talks, and workshops celebrating Irish culture, heritage, and shared values."

A rally planned in Cork on the same day was allegedly set to be cancelled to allow supporters to travel to the festival. Stephen Kerr, who leads the right-wing media outlet Irish Inquiry and frequently promotes anti-immigration protests on social media, was involved in the organising. Speakers included far-right columnist John Waters, occultist YouTuber Thomas Sheridan and nationalist historian Kevin Flanagan.

An open letter circulated by Leitrim and Roscommon Against Fascism (LARAF) was signed by around 600 artists and arts workers was sent to the Committee of the Mayflower earlier this week, demanding the festival be cancelled as it would "tarnish the proud history of the Mayflower as a venue."

"If it is permitted to go ahead, we believe the far-right 'Mise Éire Festival' will tarnish the proud history of the Mayflower as a venue that has served to bring people together from all backgrounds and as a safe and inclusive cultural space for the community, for local schoolchildren and for all visitors to the area," the letter reads.

This open letter - signed by approximately 600 artists, musicians and arts workers has now been sent to the Committee of the Mayflower, Drumshanbo and to the Leitrim Observer. The signatories include Christy Moore and Kneecap. pic.twitter.com/a9jLzp3c9k

— EamonnVIDF 🏳️‍⚧️🍉 (@EamonnVIDF) August 5, 2025

Signatories included KNEECAP, Fontaines D.C., Christy Moore, Chris O'Dowd and The Mary Wallopers.

The original poster of the letter, @EamonnVIDF, also claimed on X that the event was misrepresenting itself as a music event rather than a nationalist gathering.

"People got the fact that the far-right were trying to throw their weight around and make their way into community spaces," Eamonn said.

"They [festival organisers] were trying to portray it as a nice little music festival but it was apparent that it was a far-right event...A host of far-right actors were promoting the event online."

Mise Éire Festival posted on Facebook after the announcement, calling LARAF "anti-Irish fascists."

"As LARAF celebrates what they think is a successful attack on free speech and Irish culture is in fact the beginning of the demise of the true fascist movement that thinks it can dictate what grown adults do, think, say and feel," the post read.

"It is a good time for them to understand why we chose the name Mise Éire which means 'I am Ireland'. We ARE Ireland, our attendees ARE. These people cannot take away what is within us. Inherent and intrinsic and God given."

Mise Éire Festival changed their intro on Facebook to say the event would instead be held "at a secret location outside Castlebar, Co. Mayo."