Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Donna Nikolaisen launch anti-racism gig

Former Cork hurler Seán Óg Ó hAilpin and Fair City actress Donna Anita Nikolaisen are opening a concert on Leeside to help combat discrimination.

Cork Rocks Against Racism is hosted by Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, in collaboration with campaign group Love Music Hate Racism at Cork City Hall on Friday.

The concert, compered by RedFM’s Stevie G, marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Both Mr Óg Ó hAilpin and Ms Nikolaisen will speak at the event which will include performances from groups such as ApocalypsE, Tiger Boy and The Lost Gecko.

Nasc communications manager Jennifer DeWan said Transition Year students from a number of Cork schools will also participate.

“We started this event for last year’s International Day Against Racism with great success, so we are very excited to be building on that success with an even bigger event this year.

“It is a great opportunity to work with up-and-coming talent in the city and with young people to highlight’s Cork’s diversity, to raise awareness about racism and to mark the day.”

At the event Nasc will launch its anti-racism information pack to help teachers start conversations with students about racism and how to tackle it in schools and society.

The information pack was developed with Nasc’s migrant youth group as part of the Cork City Social Inclusion Project which promotes integration and combats racism.

The Social Inclusion Project is co-financed by the European Commission under the European Integration Fund and is supported by the Department of Justice and Equality, and Pobal.