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THIRTY YEARS AGO, unemployment was a major problem in Ireland.
With around a quarter of a million unemployed in the country, Irish musicians decided do something to raise awareness, and held a charity concert for 30,000 people on 17 May 1986.
With a nod to Live Aid, they put on Self Aid in order to raise funds and create jobs for the unemployed in Ireland.
Live Aid had been a hugely successful global phenomenon, and organiser Bob Geldof was inspired by it to hold another event in the RDS in Dublin.
Self Aid took place 10 months after the Live Aid concert and 18 months after the Band Aid single was released.
The concert was headlined by the Boomtown Rats, and there was a great line up of other Irish performers on the night, including U2, Van Morrison, Christy Moore, Rory Gallagher and the Pogues.
Speaking to the audience on the night, Bono said:
This country belongs to you just as much as it belongs to RTÉ just as much as it belongs to CIE or ESB or AIB or the Bank of Ireland. And if you work for ANCO or if you work for Manpower. If you are paid by the people you better look after those people. So treat them nice on Monday morning.
Thin Lizzy also played on the night with Gary Moore on vocals.
Tributes were paid to the band’s lead singer, Phil Lynott, who had died just four months previously.
Tickets cost £15 for the concert, and there was a subsequent album, Live for Ireland that many of the performers recorded.
The concert’s aim was to highlight the unemployment rates in the country, as there were over 250,000 people unemployed in Ireland at the time.
A telethon in RTÉ studios occurred on the same day as the concert. Presenters and celebrities manned the phones, taking pledges for jobs and donations for the cause.
All profits from the concert, the accompanying album and the telethon went to the Self Aid Trust.
One of the big acts of the night were U2, who were introduced on stage by RTÉ’s Dave Fanning.
The concert marked the final performance of the Boomtown Rats, with frontman Bob Geldof, saying to the crowd:
It’s been a very good 10 years. Thank you very much. Rest in peace.
The band reunited 27 years later in 2013.
Today, Twitter users have been sharing their memories of the benefit gig three decades ago.
RTÉ made a documentary of behind the scenes at Self Aid, which was broadcast in December 1986.
Here's one of the famous scenes from it, where Bono ran backstage during his set to drink a bottle of cider with some fans:
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Now a job isn’t even enough for a roof over your head
Not even two jobs, is enough and prices rising with new taxes being created.
Leslie Dowdall…my God she was stunning and what an incredible singer.
My first love…
I wonder what she is at now…
Latest: Leslie is currently on tour with Mike Hanrahan. Catch them at the following venues:
Live . . . . . . In 2007
she had a great solo song called ‘wonderful thing’…to think some of these great acts never made it abroad and instead The Corrs and Pondlife did….scary….
The only change is people have become more selfish with their fellow citizens -
Went there, did that, still have the t-shirt somewhere!
At least you got to see talented musicians. If we had one today, We could barely find enough talented musicians to do an hour of a gig and they may need zimmer frames to perform or Viagra?
Still plenty of great musicians. Sweet FA airplay though unfortunately.
Nail on the head Fergal.
Some great acts including Gary Moore…amazing guitarist…terrible loss.
Theres a blast from the past. I remember Blue in Heaven and Les Enfants and Cactus World News but cant for the life of me remember their music. No, its not cos i am old or anything. I must dust off my vhs tapes i recorded off the telly of Self Aid and watch em
Cactus world news are still playing new album coming out
”THIRTY YEARS AGO, unemployment was a major problem in Ireland.” Might not be to the same extent as the 80s but still major problem now.
Keep the recovery going
I was more interested in Self Aid than I was in my inter.
Give us a fuc*king job ……
“My friend John and his business enterprise”
Thanks – I now have that on a loop in my head…
Tickets £15.
Any discount for the unemployed?
The irony.
It was £10 for the unemployed if you showed your dole card when buying the ticket.
I remember Bob geldof singing lead with THIN LIZZY on the cowboy song
We’re an Oirish band from Dublin city Oirland.
“Any of the girls like a little more Irish in them”?
Les Enfants take the girl and cactus world news the Bridge, great Irish bands like them, the Blades, light a big fire amongst others should have been huge
The Blades were the only band to vocally refuse to play. They thought it was hypocritical that while the government was doing nothing, employers would be suitably moved by Cactus World News that they would ring in to pledge to create new jobs.
Great day of music
What a line up.
What would you put on these days?
I doubt it.
All was yellow…hot hot hot
What happened to the cash in the ‘Self-Aid ‘ Trust ?
Did Bono ever go back to his job on Maggie’s Farm ?
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