Reactions pour in after Lankum's pro Palestinian Choice Awards speech cut from RTÉ Listen Back

Last night Lankum rather unsurprisingly scooped up the award for Album of the Year at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize for their fourth LP False Lankum. However, what did surprise some fans is that the group's Pro-Palestine acceptance speech was cut from the RTÉ Listen Back.

RTÉ have this afternoon issued a statement which clarifies: "RTÉ can confirm that Lankum's acceptance speech at last night's RTÉ Choice Music Prize was carried in full, live on RTÉ 2fm, without any interruption.

"Audio files, which allow listeners to listen back to programmes are generated automatically. The RTÉ Choice Music Prize audio file was pre-programmed to record up to 11.15pm, allowing for a short overrun.

"As there was an unexpected and considerable overrun in the live event, neither the announcement of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of The Year, nor Lankum's acceptance were available in the Listen Back edition.

"The full programme, as broadcast, is currently being restored to the listen back edition and will be available online."

While it didn't make it on to RTÉ's main 7pm-11.15pm live coverage because of that overrun, Lankum's speech was part of the "After-Party Show" programme that followed, as was Denise Chaila's introduction to their win.

The group won the €10,000 prize at the Vicar Street Ceremony accepted yesterday saying: "To be honest, it's really hard to see how we can celebrate it with an actual live genocide going on".

Speaking on behalf of the band, Lankum's Ian Lynch said on what collective actions people can take: "There's occupations, direct action, boycotts - go into the supermarket, find every Israeli product you can find, fuck it in the bin.

"It's a good start anyway because I think we all need to do exactly what we can because in the years to come, your grandkids are gonna be sitting on your lap and they're gonna go 'Nana, Granda, what did you do during the Palestine genocide?'."

It was soon realised that the doom folk group's acceptance speech did not make it into the Listen Back, an issue which was quickly highlighted on Twitter.

Fellow Choice Music Prize nominee CMAT messaged:

i believe it was incredibly disrespectful of @RTE2fm to cut @LankumDublin ‘s winning speech out of their broadcast, in which Ian spoke so eloquently about the genocide happening in Palestine right now. so here it is again- hopefully more people hear it. all the love 🇮🇪❤️🇵🇸 https://t.co/Ihhz0WfSBz

— cmat (@cmatbaby) March 8, 2024

Limerick's Blindboy also commented on the issue, sharing a post on the social media platform:

Lankum won the biggest music award in Ireland last night and their speech was cut from RTÉ because they used their platform to highlight genocide https://t.co/wzstPaAWIJ

— The Blindboy Podcast (@bbboatclub) March 8, 2024

Lankum have received widespread praise for the speech with Junior Brother, Kneecap and their manager Daniel Lambert, Richie Egan and author Sinéad Gleeson among those welcoming their stance.

Lankum were crowned the winners of last night's prestigious album of year award, with best breakthrough artist and Irish artist of the year both going to Jazzy. Cork's own Cian Ducrot won song of the year for his track 'Heaven', which was selected by public vote.