Spotlight: The Resistance Choir
We recently invited The Resistance Choir to tell us a little bit more about themselves and their involvement in St. Andrew’s Community Centre!
Can you tell us a little about your group and what inspired you to get involved in this activity?
The idea of a Resistance Choir was conceived in 2013 by Paul O’Boyle and Tina MacVeigh when the campaign for opposing the Household Tax was kicking off. The original idea was to enhance traditional protests with music that could inspire and lift the political spirit and use music and song to protest against inequality and injustice. Some of the songs are composed by Paul O’Boyle and others are adapted lyrics to well-known songs.
2. Tell us more about the activity - what does it involve, and who is it for?
We sing in solidarity with homeless people, striking workers, refugees and asylum seekers, minority groups and other marginalised or disadvantaged people. We sing about the housing crisis, austerity, separation of church and state, racism and other social and political issues. We do flashmobs, we perform at protests, strikes, fundraising gigs. We have lots of fun! However the commitment to weekly practice (Sept – June) and learning words is a necessary element of the choir. Music lifts your mood and the practices are really good.
Some issues highlighted/supported so far:
∙ Strikes: nurses, bus drivers, Debenhams, ESB network, Greyhound, school secretaries & caretakers
∙ Flash Mobs: Household Tax, Marriage Equality, Repeal, Cost of Living
∙ Campaigns: Household Tax, Water Charges, Higher Pay in Health Services, Cost of Living, Together for All, Raise the Roof (housing), Climate Change
∙ Discrimination Issues: disability rights, travellers rights, migrant rights, abuse in the catholic church
∙ International: Palestine, Anti War, Prisoners of conscience (Grupo Yorum in Turkey). Free the Rescuers rally (arrest of emigrant rescuers in Greece), Neutrality
3. How has the activity been going so far? Have there been any highlights, challenges, or memorable moments?
There are many memorable moments. The outstanding one was singing each week in the delivery bay with the Debenhams strikers when they fought against redundancy. We were then asked to sing at the premier of a film made about the strike: 406 days.
The Choir decided to mark the genocide in Palestine with an original song and a ritual which was filmed – this was a particularly moving event – see here
4. How can people get in touch with your group or find out more about getting involved?
It’s very easy. Just come along any Wednesday 7.30pm to St Andrews; phone 0876143344; email theresistancechoir2013@gmail.com. All newcomers are welcome to come along for a few weeks to ‘try us out’ with no obligation to stay! If you decide to stay you are welcome to join the google groups email and the two whatsapp groups.
5. Lastly, do you have an interesting, fun, or inspiring fact about your group or activity that you’d like to share with us?
Though we have a musical director to take a lead on the music, we work in as democratic and collaborative way as possible. Each week we give over 15 minutes to collectively decide what activity the choir will get involved with.. We share out jobs that have to be done among the group. At present we have 15-20 members.