Live Aid, 1985

Its forty years this month since ‘Live Aid’, the world benefit concert held on July 13, 1985, which aimed at raising funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. For thousands of young and old alike across the globe it was a day never to forget as in two venues - Wembley Stadium, London, and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia - and attended by over 150,000 audience members in total, the Live Aid concerts were beamed to the world. People saw their favourite artists perform to help Famine stricken Ethiopians. In Ireland it struck a chord, given the historical significance of Famine here and  the efforts of ‘Live Aid’ and of Bob Geldof went much further. Just looking back through the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive we can trace the sheer scale of donations which were gathered in Ireland for the event throughout 1985. For example in September the Dundalk Democrat reported that:

Live Aid, lives on in Co. Louth after the Feed the World Live Aid concerts in Wembley and Philadelphia on that memorable Saturday (July 13) when our own Bob Geldof's tireless and unselfish efforts zoomed in the world's attention to focus on what is happening in the Third World. Dundalk saw its own Live Aid concert in Club '84 during the summer. And from October until Christmas week Live Aid concerts will be held in Dundalk, Dunleer, Carrickmacross, Newtown near Ardee and Ardee town.

 In Tuam, county Galway their poster competitions for children, with donations going to the appeal. The AIB branch in Tipperary reported that they had raised almost £30,000 for the appeal. Staff at Dublin's Adelphi Cinema collected ' £2,150 from patrons in donations at the Saturday screenings, which were undoubtedly down on attendees because of the television coverage of the concerts. 

What are your memories of the concerts? Did you attend a 'Live Aid' fundraiser in Ireland?

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )