Minister for Arts Catherine Martin has reiterated her "utmost respect" for the Irish musicians who boycotted the SXSW music festival in Texas in protest over its sponsorship by the US army.
Acts including Kneecap, Gavin James, Soda Blonde and Mick Flannery have pulled out of the festival, with one member of Kneecap saying the decision to boycott SXSW was a "no brainer".
Speaking at a panel discussion at the festival, Ms Martin said: "It is essential for us to have a diversity of voices and people willing to hold a lens up to society and reflect back what is happening."
Ms Martin had rejected calls not to attend the event and insisted that it offered her an opportunity to speak directly to a US audience with strong ties to the Israeli nation.
"I am taking a stand for the concerns of the Irish people, as well as our artists, by advocating both here and as I did last night at the consulate event to mark St Patrick's Day, for an immediate ceasefire in war-torn Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages and a massive and sustained increase in humanitarian aid, food and medicine to the people of Gaza.
"Like so many people in Ireland, I have felt nothing but revulsion and anger at seeing the killing, bombing and maiming inflicted on the Palestinian people in Gaza in recent months. It has to stop," she said.
Boycott a 'no-brainer' - Kneecap's Mo Chara
Kneecap were due to play three shows at the prestigious SXSW festival, which takes place from 8 to 16 March.
In a post on X, the band said they had cancelled "in solidarity with the people of Palestine and to highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the US military who at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population."
We will not be appearing at @sxsw festival. 👇 pic.twitter.com/nt5hEMH2GM
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 10, 2024
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who goes by the name Mo Chara, said it is not very often that you have a festival that is "super sponsored" by the US military.
He said when it emerged that talks from weapons companies are on the festival's agenda, it was a "no brainer" to withdraw as "these are obviously the same companies that are supplying weapons for a genocide in Palestine".
He said it "sends a very clear message that the Irish people will always be in solidarity with the Palestinian people."
Mo Chara said he would reject the suggestion that the group could have pushed their message had they attended the festival and performed and believes their fans will support them pulling out.
"If I know my fans like I think I do, I think they'll be very much supportive of our decision."
Mo Chara said: "We're not here to speak on behalf of other people or say who should and shouldn't go. We were only making the decision based on us, but I know obviously the minister [Catherine Martin] was saying that she was going to support Irish acts.
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"I think she'd be standing at the Irish stage on her own seeing as there's no acts playing anymore. But if she's using her platform to speak out against it, then all the power to her."
He said there is a financial impact from not performing but it is "only a minor hiccup in our careers".
"It's very expensive on flights, on accommodation, all these other factors, it's not just payments for gigs and there's also bands there who would be more affected than us from pulling out, which I'm very proud of.
"But at the end of the day, this is just a minor sort of hiccup in our careers in comparison to what's actually happening in Gaza... everybody can play their part.
"Our part, this time was pulling out of a gig, taking a bit of a financial hit, but the whole country can play their part, whether it's attending rallies, or boycotting is really good, and anyone who has a platform continuing to use it in any way.
"So, all we did was pull out of a gig. Yes, we lost a bit of money, it's priceless to do the right thing."
