Gaza Fundraiser at Cyprus Avenue (Photos)

What an epic turnout for the Gaza Fundraiser in Cork City last night. The doors at Cyprus Avenue opened at 7 pm and the Caroline St venue was packed in less than thirty minutes. On stage were some of the most prominent names in Cork's thriving alternative music scene. The lineup included The Altered Hours, Pretty Happy, Elaine Malone, Fixity, I Dreamed I Dream and Caoilian Sherlock.

All proceeds from the show are going to the Irish non-profit organisation Human Appeal.

During the gig, event organisers Caoilian Sherlock and Cathal Mac Gabhann (The Altered Hours) came on stage to thank everyone for supporting the gig and great cause, "hello everyone, we want to thank everyone for the colossal support here tonight. It shows how much this cause means to you all. We also want to thank the venue and staff here at Cyprus Avenue."

"We are getting together tonight in support of the people of Palestine who have endured occupation since 1948, who have struggled to resist ethnic cleansing and land seizures by successive Israeli governments."

"The Palestinian people are forced to exist in smaller areas of land where their everyday freedoms are denied, controlled, withheld and their safety is constantly under threat. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to leave and live in refugee camps and many thousands more have lost their lives."

Israel is now engaged in an attempt to destroy Gaza totally and in less than 12 months Israel backed by the US and other arms dealers including the UK has killed 31,000 people including at least 10,000 children. We demand a ceasefire!"

"We are now witnessing a blocking of aid into Palestine where the remaining population is being forcibly starved and denied medical care. This is genocide and we demand a ceasefire!"

"In the past week, the Israeli government announced the seizure of 10 square kilometers of land in the West Bank. They will not stop until illegal settlements take over the remainder of the West Bank; Gaza is destroyed and Palestine no longer exists! Free Palestine!"

"Today we are here to show solidarity with the people of Palestine! Thank you to all of the acts, the technicians, and the venue for helping to raise funds tonight, thank you to everyone who bought a ticket tonight. All funds raised from the gig will go to the Human Appeal Gaza Emergency fund, all funds raised at the goods for Gaza Table will go to Palestine Red Crescent."