Victims’ group: People are up in arms over rebel music that eulogises terror

A group which advocates on behalf of Troubles victims has spoken out against what it sees as the “normalisation” of “rebel music” – particularly its appeal to people who are too young to recall the worst of the violence.
By Adam Kula
Published 9th Sep 2020, 07:00 GMT
Updated 9th Sep 2020, 15:38 GMT
Eimhear Rebel in branded camouflage attire singing Sean South of Garryowen (about a Border Campaign-era IRA man). Her guitar also bears the emblem of the leftist organisation known as AntifaEimhear Rebel in branded camouflage attire singing Sean South of Garryowen (about a Border Campaign-era IRA man). Her guitar also bears the emblem of the leftist organisation known as Antifa
Eimhear Rebel in branded camouflage attire singing Sean South of Garryowen (about a Border Campaign-era IRA man). Her guitar also bears the emblem of the leftist organisation known as Antifa

The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) made the comments after saying it had received a number of complaints from people in Co Tyrone concerning an upcoming concert by a 30-year-old singer.

Eimear Glackin, who also styles her name Eimhear Ni Ghlacain and goes by the stage-name Eimhear Rebel, is set to perform at the Mellon Country Inn on September 19.

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She sings rebel songs about IRA members and her own brand of merchandise includes military-style camouflage attire.

A selection of YouTube performancesA selection of YouTube performances
A selection of YouTube performances

Her songs include tributes to Mairead Farrell, who was one of the would-be bombers shot dead by the SAS on Gibraltar, as well as peaens to hunger strikers and classic republic songs such as Sean South of Garryowen and the Ballad of Joe McDonnell.

Amongst the posts which she has circulated on social media recently is one demanding an end to extradition proceedings for Liam Campbell, the man found civilly-liable for the Omagh bombing and who is wanted by authorities in eastern Europe.

The venue itself is a large hotel / function / corporate event hotspot between the town of Omagh and the village of Newtownstewart.

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The venue was contacted, and its boss responded by telling the News Letter he will not comment (although he did indicate the venue would not get involved in politics, and also that it is not the only one to play host to Ms Glackin).

Ms Glackin was also messaged on social media, but no response was received.

SEFF leader Kenny Donaldson said “a lot of angry and annoyed members from Omagh and Strabane” had been in touch about the gig, which they felt was “on their doorstep” and in their faces” .

Mr Donaldson stressed that whilst rebel concerts take place constantly all over Ireland, “it doesn’t make them right”.

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The SEFF statement said: “This is not folk music, this is music which eulogises and romanticises terrorism and the sad reality is that large numbers of those attending will be young people who were either toddlers or weren’t even born at the point the Belfast Agreement was signed.

“Daily we see attempts to normalise and integrate republican rebel music as being somehow an acceptable expression of cultural identity – it is not.

“For those who have been the innocents amid IRA terrorism, daily there’s insult after insult fired at them.

“To those who are planning to attend this gathering we’d ask: Catch a grip and have some consideration for your neighbours and what they’ve been put through and continue to go through as a result of those courageous ‘Republican Volunteers’ you sing about.”

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