Opinion
13 Nov 23

Lankum's Radie Peat makes impassioned plea for Palestinians in speech circulating on social media

Lankum at Vicar Street on May 29th, 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Radie Peat, of Mercury Prize-nominated group Lankum and doom folk quartet ØXN, dedicated a speech to Sinéad O'Connor and made an impassioned plea for Palestinians suffering in Gaza

In a speech widely circulated on social media, musician Radie Peat called to 'Free Palestine', and held print-outs of the names of those who have died in Gaza since October 7th.

Speaking on Saturday, Peat dedicated an Irish music award she received to the late Sinéad O'Connor. Peat, who in the last 12 months became a parent for the first time, and released two albums; False Lankum with Lankum and CRYM with ØXN, said "it didn't feel like a very award winning year".

Speaking on the activist, artist and cultural icon Sinéad O'Connor, Peat continued: "She formed how I view being Irish. How I viewed being female. How I view what beauty is. And especially on what I view as being brave is".

Peat continues, "In the spirit of that tonight, I'd like to take a few moments to talk about something important". Peat then brought the attention of the audience at the Shelbourne Hotel to a stack of A4 papers containing the names of 6,700 who have been killed from October 7th- 26th 2023.

"This is not a speech," Peat says holding the stack. The audience members at first laughed, but Peat continued 'This is a list of the Palestinians who have been killed just between the 7th of October to the 26th".

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Peat's speech was uploaded by her ØXN band page and captioned 'Proud of our Pal'.

In her emotive speech, Radie Peat said 'At the time of compilation, this list has 6747 names, and 281 unidentified persons".

"It is by no means up to date, by the time I have finished speaking here today, many more will be dead."

"I just wanted to read one name off the list for you, and that is 'Marwa Hamza Naaser Al-Astal', she was the same age as my daughter when she died. She was 1 year old."

Concluding her speech, Radie Peat remarked: 'Free Palestine'.

Lankum are set to perform alongside The Mary Wallopers, Damien Dempsey, Lisa O'Neill and more on November 28th in 3Arena as part of the Gig for Gaza lineup.