U2 have made a donation of €200,000 to the Songs From An Empty Room fund, established to help road crew and live music technicians through the coronavirus pandemic – and to support a mental health helpline for musicians.

For those unfamiliar with the background, on Saturday evening last, several of Ireland's most exciting artists took to various stages across Ireland to perform live from some of the venues that have been hit by the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Given the extent to which live music has been hit by Covid-19, it will come as no surprise that the venues were all – as the title suggests – otherwise deserted. The music was broadcast by RTÉ

The programme, which was hosted by Eoghan McDermott and Jenny Greene, ran to two hours in length and featured songs from Denise Chaila, Picture This, James Vincent McMorrow, Gavin James and Soulé, among others.

In aid of Minding Creative Minds and the Association of Irish Stage Technicians, the aim of the live stream was to showcase the importance of live music venues – but even more so of the behind-the-scenes people who work there. Without them, there would be no live music industry.

In a gesture that will be hugely appreciated by many in the live music business, U2 – who tweeted their support for the event prior to the stream – have donated €200, 000 to the cause.

'Testing. Testing. One Two…' Don’t miss 'Songs From An Empty Room' tonight, a stellar line up of Irish artists celebrating & supporting the people who make live music happen. Those who connect us... https://t.co/7wY1bPHIuf #SongsFromAnEmptyRoom pic.twitter.com/RLPHE6rdJk

— U2 (@U2) July 25, 2020

The fund is still open, and donations of €4 can be made by texting SONGS to 50300, or via their website.