Actor Peter Smith has touched on the importance of celebrating Black Irish stories, ahead of his role as the legendary Phil Lynott in Moonlight - an upcoming rock production based on the late Dublin musician's life taking place in Vicar St next year.

"I love politics, but I never want to preach to other people about how they should think and how they should feel," Smith told Hot Press. "But I think it's important people understand that people of all race, colours and creeds have contributed towards Irish society.

"When you go to the United States for example, you could use the example of Frederick Douglass who goes way, way further back than even Philip does. People of colour, which I am, have always contributed positively to societies all over the world and I think it's important from that viewpoint to remind some people of that. Some people, obviously."

Statistics published by An Garda Síochána indicate a 12% increase in hate crime and hate related incidents in Ireland between 2022 and 2023. There has also been a surge of anti-immigrant sentiment as of late, including various protests against the housing of asylum seekers in rural communities, as well as the violent riots which took place in Dublin's city centre in November 2023. The topic has been a prominent discussion point in the lead up to Friday's general election, with six candidates having spent a number of hours debating the issue on Upfront with Katie Hannon earlier this week.

Smith, who hails near from Drimnagh in Dublin 12, not too far from where Lynott himself was reared, touched on how the cost of living crisis is fuelling anger in Irish society.

"The price of a cup of coffee here is 6 euros. What the fuck is that about? It's robbing people and it's not right," he said. "I know artists, directors, good people that work contract to contract, and can't afford to buy houses here. The answer is not to blame foreign people. It's too easy.

"We need to to sit down and look at the facts - do we have a property surplus? I think the answer is yes. How can we make it affordable for people to buy homes and to own homes? It's essential to our Irishness that we own where we live. I think that's almost uniquely Irish, because it was something that was denied to us for the guts of 800 years. So I understand it. But we need to ask questions of the right people, not poor, unfortunate people coming in trying to survive. We need to ask questions of the powers that be.

"I couldn't tell you what Fianna Gael's ideology is, or Fianna Fáil's," he continued. "That's the problem I have. [Having an ideology] keeps you honest. If somebody nails the colours to the mast early and says 'This is what we're about', then they have something to keep them honest, instead of this meandering."

Moonlight: The Philip Lynott Enigma is set to run for three nights in Vicar St, Dublin next year. A third date was announced for April 9, 2025, after the previously announced shows on April 2 and 3 had sold out. Tickets for the newly added show are available now via ticketmaster.ie.

• Stay tuned to Hot Press for the full interview with Peter Smith, who discusses the similarities between his and Phil Lynott's upbringings, his emotional encounter with the late musician's mother, the importance of celebrating one of Ireland's greatest-ever poets and more. Coming soon...