Loyalists protest at City of Culture gig

Published Monday, 21 January 2013

Police said a crowd of loyalist protestors attempted to cause disruption and block roads during the opening City of Culture concert in Londonderry.

Loyalists protest at City of Culture gig

Gary Lightbody and Johnny McDaid, of Snow Patrol, jetted in to perform. (© Presseye)

PICTURE

GALLERY

The Undertones played to a packed audience.

The Undertones at the Sons and Daughters concert.

Up to 150 people were involved in the demonstration at the Sons and Daughters event, which took place in the former military barracks in Ebrington Square on Sunday evening.

Two men were arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour.

A 22-year-old appeared before Londonderry Magistrates Court on Monday morning and a 30-year-old is due at the same court on 13 February.

The event saw local stars including Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle and Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody kick off Derry's year as UK City of Culture.

Police said it was not disrupted by the protests.

A statement said: "Police can confirm that a crowd of approximately 150 loyalist protesters attempted to cause disruption and block roads during the opening UK City of Culture Sons and Daughters concert in Londonderry yesterday evening, Sunday 20th January.

"The policing operation that was in place ensured all main roads in the area remained open and no disruption was caused to the event by the protesters."

Comments

42 Comments

John in Creggan wrote (113 days ago):

To Ben in Dublin. Welcome to Derry have a great time forget the knuckle dragers they are without culture.

peter in belfast wrote (114 days ago):

@Dee in newtonabbey thats a master piece!! in a nutshell Ahhhhh!!

jim in s'land wrote (114 days ago):

@lorna.. it actually refers to keeping holy the 'sabbath day' in the bible...but as the bible was written by jews, it actually refers to saturday. Enjoy life and forget about the invisible man in the sky...he doesn't really exist.

realistic in planet earth wrote (115 days ago):

'lorna in limavady wrote (1 day ago): Total annoyance at the Concert would be held on the Lord's day therefore no one connected to our church will attend. How many more events will be held on the Sunday day excluding those who believe in keeping holy the Lord's day.This country is supposed to be Christian where does it say in the Bible we show only observe half day Sundays' I thought the Lord's day, the sabbath, was Saturday Lorna..... go and read up on it... And don't the churches collect their money Sundays Lorna?? And the Bible you talk about is actually a collection of stories from different tribes, these stories were gathered together into one book to please these tribes so that they would all continue paying their TAXES. Lorna, religion is a business, don't take my word for it- read up on it, the truth is out there Lorna.......it's used as a tool to keep society in check - although it has failed the world over for centuries....

man in moon wrote (116 days ago):

tom we can fly the flag we just DONT WANT TO

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