U2 have donated €1.26m to the live music industry, which is suffering greatly amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesperson for U2 confirmed that the band have donated the sum to the live music industry globally, including a donation of €200,000 to Songs From An Empty Room, which took place last Saturday and saw bands and solo artists perform in venues across Ireland to raise funds for those who work behind-the-scenes at live events.
You can watch the whole performance on the RTÉ Player.
Westmeath band The Blizzards pledged €5,000 and a further €200,000 was raised through public donations.
The final total will be split evenly between two events industry organisations - Minding Creative Minds, which provides 24/7 counselling services for those who work in the music business, and the AIST Hardship Fund, administered by the Association of Irish Stage Technicians (AIST) and available to all live events professionals in Ireland.
As part of the event, Bono and The Edge performed Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven and dedicated the song to their roadies who sing it when setting up and de-rigging on tour.
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Earlier this year U2 donated €10 million to support Irish workers on the frontline battling the coronavirus outbreak.
The money was used to source and buy personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare staff.
You can still donate to the Songs From An Empty Room fund here: www.songsfromanemptyroom.com
