On this day in 1988, Rory took part in a special music event at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin to mark Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday. The event was inspired by the tremendous success of the Mandela birthday event organised by producer Tony Hollingsworth and held at Wembley Stadium in London the month before, which was widely praised for raising worldwide consciousness of Mandela’s imprisonment by the South African apartheid government. The 12-hour concert had brought together a range of global stars, from Dire Straits, George Michael and Whitney Houston to Bee Gees, Sting and Stevie Wonder, raising $5 million and watched by over 600 million people in 67 countries.  The Irish press expressed disappointment, nonetheless, that no Irish act had been included in the concert.

This oversight was swiftly rectified with the organisation of Dublin’s own ‘Freedom at Seventy’ concert—a four-hour musical extravaganza featuring Rory Gallagher, Christy Moore and Sinead O’Connor at the top of the bill, with support from Louis Stewart, Terry Woods, Ella Mental, Frank Harte, Ndor Khuze and Liam O’Flynn.

Below, I share a first-hand account of the concert by fan Paul O’Sullivan who was in the audience that night. This account was originally published in the Rory fanzine Deuce:

“This four hour long concert was organised by the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday. The artists who all played for free include Donal Lunny. Christy Moore. Frank Harte, some of the Pogues, Sinead O’Connor, Liam O’Flynn, Mary Black Louis Stewart and Rory Gallagher, all Irish. Ella Mental. And the ANC Choir (South African)

It was an enjoyable event. The music was excellent and it helped to highlight the need to continue protesting against the brutal apartheid system in South Africa and to support sanctions. Some of the best Irish traditional music/folk artists, Donal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn and Christy Moore delighted the audience early in the show. We were also treated to some fine jazz guitar from Louis Stewart, high register vocalising by Sinead O’Connor and the real sounds of Africa as presented by the ANC Choir.

The best wine, of course, we kept until the end. The curtains lifted for the headlining act and Rory and his band launched into their 30-minute set. First off, ‘The Loop’. Then we were into the fully fledged blues of ‘I Wonder Who’. Matters were brought up to date with ‘Continental Op’ shortly afterwards. The audience were fully with the band by now. A rip-roaring version of Sonny Boy Williamson’s ‘Don’t Start Me Talkin’ coupled with ‘Nadine’ and any few non-believers were instantly converted.

The energy displayed on stage was infectious. Rory duckwalking across the stage, one guitar string broken, but magic sounds still being pounded out from that famous Strat. The band behind him firing on all cylinders, cooking up a storm. Superb stuff.

The gospel tune ‘Let’s Go home’ was also done well. Finally, Rory and co. closed their set with that beautiful hymn-like ballad of Dylan’s ‘I Shall Be Released’. The song was particularly appropriate on this, the 70th birthday, of a man whose continued imprisonment is a shameful reflection of the South Africa regime. Rory’s white Telecaster picked out the notes, the band’s music weaved in and out as the ANC choir, the organisers and the audience joined in the singing.

 A good cause and a good concert…

Unfortunately, no photos, recordings or video footage have appeared to date. Surely, someone somewhere out there must have some to share? If so, please get in touch. We’d love to see them!