Roscrea rockers have strong links to Ukraine

A Roscrea rock band who have strong links with fellow musicians and artists in Ukraine had planned to return to the country this year for a music festival.

Unkindness Of Ravens, who are based in Roscrea and have members from Nenagh, performed at the festival in Ukraine in 2016 and forged very strong links with the musicians they met and played music with.

The band were working with an American record label and through that connection found their way to performing at a festival near the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine soon after releasing their debut album.

In 2019 the band members founded their own small, boutique record label in Roscrea, Wolftrap Records - named after Wolftrap Mountain in the Slieve Bloom mountains. Having been very impressed by the musicians they met in Ukraine, they subsequently funded the debut release by a Ukrainian band and released it through the Wolftrap label and have sold many copies of that album to Irish audiences, spreading awareness about the very exciting Ukrainian rock and experimental music scene.

In 2016 they attempted to assist a Ukrainian band to enter Ireland and perform at the Siege of Limerick festival - however, despite even enlisting the assistance of a Tipperary TD, were unable to secure visas to enter Ireland for all the band members.

The Ukrainian band, named Mother Witch and Dead Water Ghosts, still have hopes to perform at the famous biannual Limerick festival.

“We were deeply impressed by the musicians and excellent music we found in Ukraine, but most of all their incredible spirit. They are compassionate and welcoming people who know about the turbulent history of Ireland, which they are inspired by. We were amazed by the in-depth knowledge of many of the young Ukrainian people on Irish history and the struggle for Irish independence. They also love Ireland's mythological culture”, the Roscrea band said.

"We crossed the Medyka Prezmysyl border into Ukraine, which we are all seeing on the news reports as the epicentre of one of the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has ever seen. It's absolutely heartbreaking to watch unfold. It's a stunningly beautiful part of the world and we will definitely return - they treated us like one of their own while we were there, it was very moving and left a deep impression on us.

"We have kept in touch with our Ukrainian friends since Russia started their invasion last week and they are all safe. Some of them are spending their nights in bomb shelters and metro stations.

“Having seen the Ukrainian spirit firsthand, we know they are like Irish people and will fight until the bitter end for freedom - their resistance will be absolutely dogged and they will not capitulate”, Unkindness Of Ravens said.