1 of 2

Music and Social Protest: A Look into the Protest Music of the Troubles in Northern Ireland

Lauren Blue

University College Dublin

References:

https://www-oxfordmusiconline-com.chapman.idm.oclc.org/grovemusic/display/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000013901?rskey=BijBiq&result=1

https://www.jstor.org/stable/3060683

https://posc284.posc.sites.carleton.edu/uncategorized/the-influence-of-music-and-musicians-during-the-troubles/ - has useful sources

https://www.claddaghdesign.com/blogs/irish-interest/traditional-irish-music-whats-it-all-about#:~:text=Although%20there%20are%20many%20aspects,of%20the%20population%20were%20literate.

O’Connell, John Morgan. “Music in War, Music for Peace: A Review Article.” Ethnomusicology, vol. 55, no. 1, 2011, pp. 112–27. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5406/ethnomusicology.55.1.0112. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

https://www.britannica.com/event/The-Troubles-Northern-Ireland-history/Civil-rights-activism-the-Battle-of-Bogside-and-the-arrival-of-the-British-army

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42702781

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-police/invisible-sun

https://www.sundayworld.com/news/irish-news/tina-turner-threatened-to-sue-loyalist-terror-gang-over-use-of-simply-the-best/a2045116660.html

https://group.irishecho.com/2011/02/singer-angry-over-udas-use-of-song-2/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ulster-Defence-Association

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/15/belfast-1998-peace-concert-waterfront-bono-bertie-ahern-neil-hannon-northern-ireland

Introduction:

Some of the most influential

music and art have emerged

during civil, social, and political

unrest. Music, in particular, is a

critical aspect of almost every

culture, and protest music is even

more influential because it can be used as a tool to

unify causes. The Troubles

brought global attention to

Ireland, and thus, many well known

artists released

commercially successful songs on

the topic. Musicians worldwide,

including Paul McCartney, John

Lennon, Elton John, The

Cranberries, U2, and more, used

music to react against the social

injustice and violence in

Northern Ireland. Other songs,

like Tina Turner's "Simply the

Best," became the anthem song

for the Ulster Volunteer Force,

and NWA's "Fuck the Police" for

Irish Republican prisoners.

While certain music is written for

specific political purposes, how music is interpreted or perceived is often out of the artist's control; a lot of music we view as "protest music" was not written with the intent of being a protest song.

Methodological Approach

Through lyrical and harmonic analysis, this research demonstrates how and why

music serves as a creative outlet

for social protest, focusing

specifically on the music that

emerged from The Troubles in

Northern Ireland from the 1960s

to the 1990s and the global

musical reaction to this civil unrest.

Background:

The “Troubles” marks a period of violence in Northern Ireland, resulting in internal and external civil unrest and conflict between Northern Ireland and England sparking a period of violence lasting for thirty years.

Religious differences were highlighted between the Irish Catholics and English Protestants, ultimately changing the social, religious, and political dynamic of Ireland. The struggle for Irish freedom dates back to the 17th century. The Irish War of Independence, ranging officially from 1919-1921, officially divided the island of Ireland into two territories- North and South. Northern Ireland began functioning as a “self-governing” region of Great Britain with around ⅔ of the population being Protestant, and the remaining ⅓ being of the Catholic faith. Catholics in Northern Ireland began to be significantly displaced by the onset of rising Protestantism and the downfall of Irish nationalism. In Irish schools, the Irish language and Irish history (that of being oppressed) were not taught in school. It was illegal to fly the flag of the Irish Republic in Northern Ireland, stirring the beginnings of the Troubles.

Music and Identity

Music is a large part of Irish cultural identity, and the Troubles drastically changed the perception of Irish music, both pop and traditional.

Bill Rolston’s “This is not a Rebel Song’: The Irish Conflict and Popular Music” discusses the interlink between music, politics, and the power of music in advancing a political agenda.

Rolston argues that “Music and politics have a long and supportive relationship in Irish History, and presents four main thematic elements that appeared in the pop and rock protest songs emerging from this period. Elton John’s “Belfast” emulates the idea of Northern Ireland being a “living hell.” Police “Invisible Sun” grasps on to any sign of hope, searching for this invisible sun in a time of violence. U2’s “Bloody Sunday” and The Cranberries “Zombie” demonstrates that the original fight for freedom has been lost in the violence of this war. John Lennon, a Brit, condemns the violence and colonization of Northern Ireland by the British in “Luck of the Irish”

Music For Peace

The Good Friday Agreement, the final peace deal between Ireland and England, was introduced in April of 1998. Five weeks after the Good Friday Agreement was introduced, both sides (England and Ireland) needed to vote in favor of these new terms. In a final attempt to rally support, Bono and Ash’s Tim Wheeler took the stage with David Trimble and John Hume, urging for peace at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. The violence of the Troubles overshadowed what the original fight was about, over thirty years of violent warfare had encompassed Ireland and England and by the end of the 90’s there was a strong pull for peace. Similar to some of the other music produced during the Troubles, the plea for peace and an end to violence was stronger than the original cause they were fighting for.

Music was a unifying tool used to target younger generations and audiences. By unifying both political parties, peace and a ceasefire was finally introduced to the younger generations who were used to violence their whole lives, and music plays a role in this process.

“We only agreed to do the concert if the parties would shake hands, and not speak”- Bono

1 of 2

2 of 2