Politics

Culture minister defends attending US festival despite boycott over Gaza by Irish artists

Catherine Martin said she would use the festival to ‘make clear her revulsion’ at the events in Gaza

Catherine Martin, the culture minister, said she would use her trip to South by Southwest to ‘make clear her revulsion at the devastation that has been unleashed on Gaza’. Picture: Fergal Phillips

The culture minister has defended attending an arts festival in the US that has been boycotted by some Irish artists over Gaza.

Catherine Martin said she would use her trip to South by Southwest (SXSW) to coincide with St Patrick’s Day to “make clear her revulsion at the devastation that has been unleashed on Gaza”.

Artists including Soda Blonde, Mick Flannery and Belfast group Kneecap have withdrawn from the festival over opposition to the US ...