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Buskers warn quality of street performers in Dublin is suffering due to regulations

Buskers are warning that the quality of artists playing on the capital's streets is suf...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.52 22 Jul 2016


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Buskers warn quality of street...

Buskers warn quality of street performers in Dublin is suffering due to regulations

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.52 22 Jul 2016


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Buskers are warning that the quality of artists playing on the capital's streets is suffering because of regulations on street performers.

Since last years, performers have had to apply for a permit issued by Dublin City Council.

Earlier this month, the council voted to revise the by-law - including a measure to get rid of amplification in parts of Temple Bar and around the GPO on O'Connell Street.

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A vote on a citywide ban on backing tracks was also accepted at the meeting of councillors.

Musicians will have to have a selection of tracks that lasts 30 minutes - meaning they will not be allowed repeat songs over and over again.

The council says the revised by-laws will come into effect on August 1st.

Meanwhile, 100 cities around the world will mark the first ever International Busking Day tomorrow.

Bobby Coyne is secretary of Dublin City Buskers, and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast ahead of tomorrow's events.

He discussed what his group is trying to achieve, and why they are objecting to some of the regulations.

"The DCB are currently trying to work together to improve the quality standards on the streets," he explained. "What we asked Dublin City Council was to introduce a 60-minute repertoire instead of 30 minutes.

"I'd say you've noticed over the last year that a lot of the good acts have disappeared from [Grafton Street]. You're losing all the jazz schools, you're losing all the students who come out just to do it on their lunch break.

"At the moment, for a five piece band to come and play on the street, you've got to pay nearly €600 to Dublin City Council. No system where you have to 'pay to play' is pro-busking."

Councillor Rebecca Moynihan also spoke to the show, and explained why the new by-laws are being introduced.

"This is about ensuring no one group has a monopoly on what happens in the city centre, and that it's balanced between everybody," she said.

"It means there's no repetition, so somebody sitting an office in their house isn't hearing the same thing over and over and over again. It also means the people have to move on, so other buskers are actually getting a chance to take up the prime slots."


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