A Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann protest at the lack of funding for the promotion of traditional music.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann want to see more state aid and funding for traditional Irish musicians.
A lament on the uilleann pipes began the demonstration.
Over the past two years, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has been experiencing growing financial problems and now has debts of three quarters of a million pounds. 35,000 members of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Ireland and abroad are trying to manage this debt brought about largely as a result of establishing their headquarters at Monkstown in Dublin.
President of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Jim McAuley said that the demonstration symbolised the frustration and disgust felt by the organisation at the low level of state funding the organisation receive for promoting Irish culture.
Protesters held placards outlining their demands.
It's time to pay the piper.
The protesters, comprising dancers, musicians and six bands, marched from Merrion Square to the GPO on O'Connell Street. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann now faces the threat of having electricity and phone lines cut off and evicting them from the premises. Jim McAuley said that if they were evicted from their offices, the disgrace belonged to government agencies for their lack of support.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 9 June 1984. The reporter is Michael Fisher.
