Green Kite Midnight on the Merthyr to Mayo bike caravan

June 22nd, 2010

The Green Kite Midnight ceilidh band has recently returned from a week in Ireland  campaigning and playing music in solidarity with the people of the Erris region, who have been resisting a Shell gas refinery and pipeline for the last ten years.

The band joined activists in Galway for the final 200 kilometres of a 50-strong bicycle convoy [http://www.merthyrtomayo.org] from Methyr Tydfil in Wales to Rossport on the West Coast of Ireland, organised by our friends at Bicycology - http://www.bicycology.org.uk/ .

Ceilidh at Castlerae Prison

Any excuse has been found to imprison local residents opposing Shell. Most famously, in 2005, five local farmers who refused to sell their land (The Rossport 5) were imprisoned for refusing Shell’s pipeline.
At present two activists are in prison - Niall Harnett and Pat O’Donnell.

Local fisherman Pat O’Donnell http://www.shelltosea.com/content/shell-corrib-gas-who-are-real-thugs-bullies was charged with “obstructing a police officer” at a demonstration – in the context of a wave of state repression against him which has included being assaulted, punched in the face, targeted by masked gunmen, and having his boat scuttled.    
Niall Harnett http://www.shelltosea.com/content/jailing-niall-harnett was imprisoned for “assaulting a police officer” on a demonstration for putting his hand on a policeman while said policeman was pulling a fellow protestor off an illegally constructed fence.

To protest this injustice, in full sound reach of the inmates, Green Kite Midnight joined forces with local folk bands to hold a concert for the prisoners from the car park of Castlerae Prison. Once in the campaigning ceilidh spirit, activists blockaded the Shell petrol station opposite the prison by moving the party on to the forecourt.  

Rossport Solidarity Camp Annual Gathering

 
120 kilometres north of Castlerae is The Rossport Solidarity Camp - a space for activists from outside the local area to stay and join the campaign against Shell’s pipeline.
 
In contrast to last Summer’s visit to an industrial estate on the Isle of Wight (See ‘Green Kite Midnight Supports Vesta workers http://www.greenkitemidnight.com/?q=news) Rossport Solidarity camp is idyllically situated near deserted beaches, under rolling hills and by a stunning estuary.

By day locals told of their experience of the campaign, their changing perceptions of the Irish police force, and how Shell and the Irish government were not only sacrificing the environment and local communities for their project, but sacrificing revenue for public services too - government royalties have been slashed to 0% and tax to 25% while the global average is about 60%. Shoulder to shoulder we also engaged in a joint attempt to dig up and expose an illegally laid section of pipeline.
 
On consecutive nights, as the sun went down, Green Kite Midnight entertained the camp goers with ceilidhs, followed by long evenings of musical cultural exchange - sharing ballads, jigs and reels around the campfire.

  
The band returns inspired, tired, and full of new tunes and dances to add to the repetoir.
 
Bring on Glastonbury.