Gary Lightbody has condemned the prospect of hard border in Ireland – a possibility which has become a real threat as a result of Brexit. The Snow Patrol frontman explained that it would be the "worst possible thing" for Ireland as a whole, "for our country, for our people, for the safety of our people, for the peace and the well-being of our people. It's really bad."

As reported by the Associated Press, the musician, who grew up in Bangor, Co. Down, explained the potential severity of any return to a hard border. "It is something that is extremely worrying," he said. "We are still recovering from the events of the 30-something years of The Troubles, and all our history of our tumultuous island in the years before that."

Gary Lightbody is clear in his determination that the border should not be re-introduced. His belief is that any move in that direction will cause chaos. "At this point it is such chaos," he said of Brexit in general, "and it is so disorganised, that any kind of scenario seems like it is going to affect people negatively, and if it doesn't happen then there are negative connotations for that too."

In an aspect of the Brexit negotiations that has received very little exposure, he confirms that Brexit will have knock-on effects on touring for the band, and indeed for every musician and live act in Britain. "Of course it will affect every touring band with British passports, of course it will," he states. "I have this hope that something happens that gets resolved and we don't go into [Brexit]."

Overall, Gary Lightbody regards the decision, based on the vote in the Brexit referendum, to be "a tragedy" and says that he voted to remain in the EU. "I didn't want Brexit to happen but it looks like it might. This is the new landscape we are in."

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