Self Aid

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Self Aid was a benefit concert held in Dublin, Ireland on 17 May 1986. The concert performances were primarily by Irish musicians, although Elvis Costello and Chris Rea were designated "honorary Irishmen" for the day. The concert included the last performance by The Boomtown Rats.

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. All musicians that took part donated their time free of charge. 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. The song chosen for the finale was "Let's Make it Work", written by Christy Moore and Dublin songwriter Paul Doran. Tributes were paid to Phil Lynott who had died just 4 months earlier, including a performance by a reformed Thin Lizzy with Bob Geldof on lead vocals.

Concert performers

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Moya Brennan of Clannad, Bono, Bob Geldof and Chris de Burgh performing together at the concert.

The line-up included:

• Auto Da Fe
• Bagatelle
• Blue in Heaven
• The Boomtown Rats
• Paul Brady
• Chris de Burgh
• Cactus World News
• The Chieftains
• Clannad
• De Danann
• Rory Gallagher
• The Fountainhead
• In Tua Nua
• Christy Moore
• Van Morrison
• Moving Hearts
• The Pogues
• Chris Rea
• Scullion
• Brush Shiels
• Stockton's Wing
• Thin Lizzy
• Those Nervous Animals
• U2
• Elvis Costello

Live For Ireland songs

CD (MCA MCD06027):

• Maggie's Farm – U2
• Seven Into The Sea – In Tua Nua
• Many Rivers To Cross – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
• Dirty Old Town – The Pogues
• Don't Pay The Ferryman – Chris de Burgh
• Harry's Game – Clannad
• The Bridge – Cactus World News
• Looking After No. 1 – The Boomtown Rats
• Here Comes The Knight – Van Morrison
• Don't Believe A Word – Thin Lizzy
• Steel River – Chris Rea
• Make It Work – Christy Moore and Paul Doran
• The Lark – Moving Hearts
• The Island – Paul Brady
• Feel It Now – The Fountainhead
• Exiles – Auto Da Fe
• Tell Me - Blue in Heaven

LP (MCA MCGD 6027):

• Don't Believe A Word – Thin Lizzy
• The Lark – Moving Hearts
• My Friend John – Those Nervous Animals
• A Sense Of Freedom – Les Enfants
• The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheeba In Galway – De Dannan
• Old Pal – Brush Shiels
• Don't Pay The Ferryman – Chris de Burgh
• Harry's Game – Clannad
• Rock'N'Roll Fantasy – Bagatelle
• Keep On Climbin – Freddie White
• Boil The Breakfast Early – The Chieftains
• Steel River – Chris Rea
• Tell Me - Blue in Heaven
• Maggie's Farm – U2
• Dirty Old Town – The Pogues
• Seven Into The Sea – In Tua Nua
• Follow Me – Rory Gallagher
• Exiles – Auto Da Fe
• Carol – Scullion
• Leave My Kitten Alone – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
• Here Comes The Knight – Van Morrison
• Skidoo – Stocktons Wing
• Independence – Big Self
• The Island – Paul Brady
• Feel It Now – The Fountainhead
• The Bridge – Cactus World News
• Looking After No. 1 – The Boomtown Rats
• Make It Work – Christy Moore and Paul Doran

(Note: There have been multiple versions of this album, with varying tracks, in different formats.)

References

External links

• "Self Aid: 20 Years on" article from CLUAS, the Irish indie music website
• LIve For Ireland album