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Self Aid was an unemployment benefit concert held in Dublin, Ireland on 17 May 1986.[1][2] The concert performances were primarily by Irish musicians, although Elvis Costello and Chris Rea, both Englishmen of Irish descent, were designated "honorary Irishmen" for the day; the event was promoted by Jim Aiken.[3] The concert included the last performance by The Boomtown Rats until they reformed in 2013.[4]

The purpose of the concert was to highlight the chronic unemployment problem in Ireland at the time, with nearly 250,000 people unemployed. The 14-hour concert was the largest that had ever been staged in Ireland.[3] All musicians that took part donated their time free of charge.[2] All profits from the concert and subsequent album, Live for Ireland, went to the Self Aid Trust. The telethon raised millions of pounds for a job creation trust fund as well as over 1000 job pledges.[1] The song chosen for the finale was "Let's Make it Work", written by Christy Moore and Dublin songwriter Paul Doran.[2] Tributes were paid to Phil Lynott who had died just 4 months earlier, including a performance by a reformed Thin Lizzy with Gary Moore on lead vocals.[5]

The concept of the concert — job creation through pledges — attracted criticism both at the time and subsequently, with critics claiming that no jobs had actually arisen as a result other than vacancies that already existed.[1]

Concert performers

The line-up included:

Live For Ireland songs

  • Maggie's Farm - U2 (6:46)
  • Seven into the Sea - In Tua Nua (3:53)
  • Many Rivers to Cross - Elvis Costello and the Attractions (2:41)
  • Dirty Old Town - The Pogues (3:45)
  • Don't Pay the Ferryman - Chris DeBurgh (3:32)
  • Harry's Game - Clannad (2:32)
  • The Bridge - Cactus World News (4:19)
  • Looking after No. 1 - The Boomtown Rats (4:50) [not on US release]
  • Here Comes the Night - Van Morrison (3:58)
  • Don't Believe a Word - Thin Lizzy (2:23) [not on US release]
  • Steel River - Chris Rea (4:48)
  • Make it Work - Christy Moore / Paul Doran (Larry Mullen) (3:13)
  • The Lark - Moving Hearts (5:35)
  • The Island - Paul Brady (5:09)
  • Feel it Now - The Fountainhead (5:01)
  • Exiles - Auto Da Fe (5:17)

Alternate tracks on US release

  • Boil the Breakfast Early - The Chieftains
  • Joey's on the Street Again - The Boomtown Rats

Alternate tracks on double vinyl/cassette release

  • My Friend John - Those Nervous Animals
  • A Sense of Freedom - Les Enfants
  • The Arrival of Queen Sheeba in Galway - De Dannan
  • Old Pal - Brush Shiels
  • Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy - Bagatelle
  • Keep on Climbin' - Freddie White
  • Tell Me - Blue in Heaven
  • Follow Me - Rory Gallagher
  • Carol - Scullion
  • Leave My Kitten Alone - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
  • Skidoo - Stockton's Wing
  • Independence - Big Self

Note: There have been multiple versions of this album, with varying tracks, in different formats and across different territories

References

  1. ^ a b c Carroll, Jim (19 May 2008). "Self Aid 22 Years On". Irish Times. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Lynch, Mick. "Self-Aid: Looking Back Twenty Years On". Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Self-Aid to Help Irish Unemployed". Billboard. 98 (19): 90. 10 May 1986. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  4. ^ "History of the Boomtown Rats". Boomtown Rats. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  5. ^ Putterford, Mark (2002). Phil Lynott: The Rocker. Omnibus Press. pp. 271–272. ISBN 0-7119-9104-9.

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