Victims campaigner: Feile organisers must be held accountable for acts like the Wolfe Tones who are seeking to make IRA-chants mainstream

The festival in west Belfast closed on Sunday night with the annual controversy of the Wolfe Tones finished their set with ‘Celtic Symphony’ which includes the lyrics ‘ooh ah up the 'ra’.

Singer Brian Warfield has said that the song is a ballad about Glasgow Celtic and the contentious line was written based on graffiti he saw on a wall in Glasgow.

Mr Donaldson said there was only one way to take the chant: "The chant ‘ooh ah up the ‘ra’ is understood by innocent victims or survivors of republican terrorism as being an intentioned and goading behaviour.

"It can be understood no other way. Its linkages to particular bands such as the Wolfe Tones who have a history of rabble rousing around the Irish rebel cause cannot go undeclared.”

"On a personal level I have a keen interest in Irish trad music, it is clear what exists within that genre and what others are attempting to muscle in with. These chants along with other anti-British or pro-Irish republican ballads connection with the terror of our recent past – and indeed which runs into our present – is not traditional Irish music and all who claim to have concern for the protection and promotion of traditional Irish music need to waken up and face down those elements who are seeking to mainstream such material".

Mr Donaldson added: "The Feile an Phobail does much to offer an outlet for the expression of positive culture particularly but not exclusively to the community of West Belfast and we recognise and commend this. But what is not acceptable is the facilitation of behaviours which promote division, hurt and distrust particularly impacting people who have already been so grievously wronged.

"Now is a time for leadership and neither the Feile nor any other organisation or institution can be given a by-ball otherwise we will remain in a place where violence dominates our societal discourse – whether in the current or in the regurgitation of the mess and wrong of what has gone before and Feile an Phobail alike everyone else must be held accountable."

"A message we send to the community in its fullest terms – stop singing songs, writing poetry, holding parades or commemorations, creating artworks or murals, naming sports grounds or trophies after those who dehumanised their neighbours resulting in lives being stolen away.”

Feile an Phobail director Kevin Gamble said a record 120,000 people had attended events at this year’s festival.

He added: “This year, representatives from all communities were welcomed to Feile to have their voice heard, both as spectators and participants.”

As yet none of the three main funders – Belfast City Council, the Arts Council NI and Tourism – have given any indication that the plan to withdraw financial support from Feile an Phobail.