65s For Burma
Published 17th Feb 2010 by Emma Harney

The 65th Birthday Celebration of Aung San Suu Kyi - Nobel Peace Prize winner and Freewoman of Dublin and Galway - The National Concert Hall, Dublin Saturday 19 June, 2010.

Featuring performances and readings from Christy Moore, Eamon Dunphy, Keith Donald, Fiachra Trench, Carmel McCreagh, Deirdre Purcell, Brendan Graham, Niall Toner, Noel Eccles and more

Tickets €45/€35/€20 from the National Concert Hall box office, by telephone on 01 4170000 or online at www.nch.ie

All proceeds from this concert will go to Burma Action Ireland to aid their continuing efforts to raise awareness for the violent military oppression suffered by the people of Burma.

A concert has been announced in celebration of the 65th birthday of incarcerated Burmese activist Aung San Sui Kyi. Irish music, literary and media legends including Christy Moore, broadcaster Eamon Dunphy, musician Keith Donald and author Deirdre Purcell will perform music and readings at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Saturday June 19th, the day of the Nobel Peace Prize winners 65th birthday.

The concert, the brainchild of Moving Hearts man Keith Donald, has been called 65s for Burma. Keith Donald explains: 'As a member of Burma Action Ireland, I always felt a connection with Aung San Suu Kyi because we are the same age. Then I realized that I knew several people who would also be 65 this year. The idea for a concert to support her and the cause of a free and democratic Burma was then a no brainer, even for an ould fella! The fact that her birthday falls on a Saturday when there's not much on in the World Cup means that the gods are smiling on this concert!'

It is hoped that the concert will raise public awareness around the on-going detention of Aung San Sui Kyi and the violent and oppressive military rule which the people of Burma continue to suffer. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the symbol of hope for the Burmese people. In 1990 she was elected by a huge majority to form a civilian government, but was imprisoned by the Burmese military. She has been under house arrest most of the time since then. Her political colleagues were also imprisoned and many have died in custody.

Speaking about the Irish concert, her cousin, Prime Minister in Exile Dr Sein Win, said: “Music is the international language of people and musicians play an important role in conveying the message of oppressed people to the world through music and song. In that way, musicians are responding to the call of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has asked us all to use our liberty to promote the freedom of Burma’s 52 million people who are prisoners in their own country.”

Of his involvement in the cause, Irish folk legend Christy Moore said “I am constantly aware of Aung San Suu Kyi’s situation, I am constantly aware of her incarceration”. Keith Donald adds “Aung San Suu Kyi is the Mandela of the twenty first century. Her situation serves to remind us that we should be grateful for our freedom and do whatever we can to help others achieve it.”

Tickets for the concert are available from the National Concert Hall box office, by telephone on 01 4170000 or on-line at www.nch.ie

For further information on Burma Action Ireland - www.burmaactionireland.org

For a deeper insight into the issues in Burma see Burma VJ, 2010 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature www.burmavjmovie.com

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