Ireland’s main opposition party, Sinn Féin, hosted the punk band Bob Vylan at the Oireachtas, the country’s parliament, despite ongoing scrutiny following the band’s controversial remarks during a recent concert. The band members, Pascal Robinson-Foster and Wade Laurence George, known as Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan respectively, were invited by Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin on March 13, 2024. Their visit coincided with a performance scheduled for that evening at Vicar Street in Dublin.
During their time at Dáil Éireann, Bob Vylan met with several TDs and Oireachtas staff, although representatives from governing parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were not included in the invitation. Ó Broin expressed his support for the band, stating, “It’s very nice to be able to invite people in and say welcome to Ireland.” He emphasized the importance of the band’s stance on social issues, including their vocal opposition to what he termed the “genocide” in Gaza.
The invitation comes at a time when Bob Vylan faces significant backlash. Earlier this year, Robinson-Foster sparked outrage by calling for “death to the IDF” during their performance at Glastonbury, a statement that is currently under criminal investigation by Avon and Somerset Police. The police are reportedly seeking legal advice from the Crown Prosecution Service regarding the comments made during that performance.
The controversy deepened after Robinson-Foster’s recent appearance on Louis Theroux’s podcast, where he controversially linked white supremacy to Zionism. When questioned about the rise in antisemitic incidents following their Glastonbury performance, he challenged the metrics used to define such incidents. Robinson-Foster stated, “What are they counting as antisemitic incidents? Because I didn’t see what they were counting as antisemitic incidents when I read it in The Guardian either.”
Ó Broin defended the invitation, noting that Bob Vylan’s music resonates with a variety of social justice issues beyond Palestine, including anti-racism and anti-fascism. He acknowledged the challenges faced by politically engaged artists, stating, “They are a band who are obviously very vocal on a range of issues. The environment in England at the moment is obviously a very negative one in many respects.”
The invitation of Bob Vylan by Sinn Féin highlights the ongoing debate surrounding free speech and artistic expression in the realm of political activism. As the band continues to navigate the fallout from their statements, the response from the political community in Ireland remains a focal point in discussions about the intersection of music, politics, and societal issues.
