Legendary singer-songwriter, Joan Baez has agreed to be one of the patrons of a major civil rights’ festival taking place in Derry this October.
Baez’s involvement was announced at the launch of the festival at the city’s Guildhall yesterday. Irish president, Michael D Higgins will be the keynote speaker at the four-day event (October 4 – 7) which has been organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the October 5 1968 civil rights’ through the city.
Image of police baton charging marchers, including a number of British Labour MPs, brought the Northern Ireland civil rights’ campaign to international prominence for the first time. Many observers consider the October 5 march as the start of the troubles.
At yesterday’s launch, festival chairman and veteran activist, Professor Paul Arthur announced that Baez had agreed to be one of the patrons of the festival. She is joined by Jimmy Nesbitt, John Hume, Baroness May Blood and Lord Alf Dubs among others.
Considered one of the greatest folk singers and song writers, Baez won fame for many songs associated with the struggle for civil rights. Her singing of the civil rights’ anthem 'We Shall Overcome' is considered the definitive rendition of the song.
Professor Arthur was joined at yesterday’ launch by festival vice-chair, Dympna McGlade as well as SDLP founding member, Ivan Cooper and Fionnbarra O’Dochartaigh, one of the organisers of the October 5 march. The launch was also attended by Derry SDLP mayor, John Boyle and civil rights’ activist Eamon Melaugh.
Ms McGlade said the organising committee set out to be as inclusive as possible.
“We’ve tried to reflect that on the committee as well and I think we’ve done that quite successfully. We are non-party political, non-sectarian,” she said.
The festival programme was outlined by chairman Professor Arthur. Speakers will include campaigners who were active in 1968 such as Eamon McCann and Mr O’Dochartaigh.
Other leading human rights’ activists taking part will include lawyers, Michael Mansfield QC and solicitor, Gareth Pearse as well as former Police Ombudsman, Dame Nuala O’Loan and British Labour peer, Lord Dubs.
BBC journalist, Fergal Keane will deliver a key address while actors, Stephen Rea and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls) will also take part.
The festival will address the campaign for civil rights from the 1960s onwards. Further information is available at www.nicivilrights.org/
