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AN INDEPENDENT IRELAND councillor has commenced legal proceedings aimed at halting a gig by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan in Dublin.
The outspoken UK band have sparked controversy in the wake of their Glastonbury performance during the summer, where they led chants of “death, death to the IDF” in reference to the Israel Defence Forces and the war in Gaza.
The pro-Palestine pair have announced a headline show at Vicar Street, Dublin, on November 26 as part of their We Won’t Go Quietly tour.
However, Linda de Courcy, an Independent Ireland councillor, told Dublin District Court today that she was there on behalf of party colleague, Cork North-Central TD Ken O’Flynn, and would be objecting to Vicar Street’s dance and music licence.
She added that it was due to serious concerns regarding the scheduled performance.
This evening, O’Flynn issued a statement that he is not a party to the court case.
Clondalkin-based de Courcy, who was elected to South Dublin County Council in 2024, informed the licensing court’s Judge Máire Conneely that O’Flynn had already written to the Thomas Street venue but he had received no response.
Barrister Dorothy Collins, representing Liberty Venues Ltd, the operators of Vicar Street, told Judge Conneely she had no idea there would be any objections until now.
Judge Conneely notified de Courcy that the objections must be set out in writing within three weeks, and the venue could then respond.
She remarked that O’Flynn should have been in court as he was an objector, but noted from de Courcy that he could not attend because he was out of the country.
Judge Conneely adjourned the matter until November 17 and reiterated that formal objections must be sent to the respondent in writing within three weeks.
Statement from O’Flynn
In a statement this evening, O’Flynn said he was not present during the proceedings, and denied he had authorised a representative to act on his behalf.
“I have not initiated, nor am I party to, any court case in respect of this matter,” O’Flynn said.
However, he indicated he has written to Vicar Street raising “safety” concerns in relation to this concert, which he said he shares with de Courcy.
The Journal understands O’Flynn’s letter to Vicar Street referred to the gig raising fears of “incitement”, “trivialisation of political murder”, and “rhetoric that poses real risk to public order”.
Glastonbury set
The BBC has partially upheld complaints regarding Bob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury in June.
The broadcaster’s executive complaints unit (ECU) found that the live stream of the set violated editorial guidelines due to frontman Bobby Vylan’s chant about the IDF and his use of pro-Palestine slogans.
The ECU also identified that abusive remarks made toward record company executives were antisemitic.
Although the performance was cleared of encouraging crime or breaching impartiality rules, the BBC removed the footage from its on-demand services.
These events led to an announcement that it would no longer broadcast “high-risk” performances.
The band has also faced other consequences, including having their US visas revoked.
A Bob Vylan gig in the Netherlands was cancelled after frontman Bobby Vylan made comments about the murder of US conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, earlier this month.
Additional reporting by Valerie Flynn
