A Newry busker has hit out at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council after an official told him to stop busking last week.
Shane McGirr, who has performed at a number of council events such as St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas light switch-ons, posted a video on social media lambasting the council for its approach.
He says the council has tried to “dictate to me” and “gaslight” him into not busking in the street.
The incident occurred on Friday, September 27, when Mr McGirr went to his usual busking spot on Hill Street in the city.
He says that a woman from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council approached him and told him it was illegal for him to continue.
“Me as a person who does busking, you would think I would know the law behind this. In Northern Ireland, the law is you don’t need a licence to busk,” he said in the video, which has been widely shared on social media.
Buskers in Northern Ireland do not require a licence to perform. However, one is required to sell merchandise, which Shane was not doing at the time.
When Shane challenged the official, citing his “good relationship” with the council, he says she told him he was wrong and they “weren’t having this argument” with him.
A council spokesperson has since said they were responding to complaints from businesses in the area in relation to buskers using amplifiers.
In his video, directed at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Shane said: “They’re happy enough using me for their events… but now they’ve come to me and tried to tell me I’m not allowed to busk.
“People need to start getting some perspective, seriously. Crime is on the rise in Newry: break-ins, theft, murder, drugs, homelessness. This is the stuff that’s on the rise, but no, what you decide to do is aim at the guy that’s singing in the street trying to bring some positivity.”
Shane, who has helped a number of organisations in Newry, says his music is aiming to “bring some life into Newry,” amid a dying high street.
“Hill Street is dying. Some of the shops are closing because the rates are too expensive. Thanks very much for that, Newry Council, but you won’t admit that.
“I’m going to continue busking, I’m going to continue playing because I’m not doing anything illegal. Maybe you lot need to start getting some perspective and start working for people in the community, because I believe I do more community work than you lot do.”
He continued: “Don’t come up to me trying to gaslight me, dictate to me and try to act like you’re some authority over me.
“You are meant to work in unison with the people and listen to what the people want.”
Shane says that the “majority” of people support busking, which gave him the opportunity to further his musical career.
“It gave me opportunities to get gigs in bars, it gave me opportunities that I always wanted and those opportunities I have passed on to other people to try and help them grow. This is what is important in this community.”
Armagh I approached Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for comment.
A spokesperson said: “Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were responding to complaints from businesses in the Hill Street area relating to buskers in particular using amplified equipment.
“If a busker is using amplification equipment Council can deal with the noise complaint, and if a statutory nuisance exists, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (NI) 2011 action can be taken to abate and prohibit the occurrence or recurrence of the noise nuisance.”
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