Sawdoctors turn down Shell’s Corrib invite

Saw Doctors decline Shell invitation to play celebration gig


Áine Ryan

SAW DOCTORS’ song, ‘The Green and Red of Mayo’, will not be played at a gig in Erris to celebrate the completion of the controversial Corrib Gas Project. The Tuam troubadours have declined an invitation extended by Shell E&P Ireland some months ago, it has emerged.
Instead, The Lunar Ticks, a local band and some of whose musicians have worked on the project, will play for the gig which will be held in Belmullet. A Shell spokesman said: “For us, that’s an even better option than The Saw Doctors.”
The Saw Doctors longtime manager, Ollie Jennings, confirmed to The Irish Times last week that the musicians declined to accept the invitation.
Lead guitarist and vocalist Leo Moran, who is currently performing with The Waterboys musician Anthony Thistlethwaite, said Shell must not have been aware that their former band member, PΡdraig Stevens, wrote a song about the Rossport Five, called ‘Fill Her Up There Mister Oilman’. It was recorded by Moran and Thistlethwaite for their album, Flyin’ It.
Last year the organisers of the annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which was held in Sligo, returned sponsorship monies from Shell after the protest group Shell to Sea and some participating musicians objected.