Macklemore's Free Palestine Tour Kicks Off in Dublin

Macklemore has launched his Free Palestine tour in Dublin, playing to a sold-out crowd of up to 13,000 at the 3Arena ^[1]. The American rapper, real name Benjamin Haggerty, made the announcement days after being removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour on 14 September. The decision followed his onstage declaration of 'Free Palestine' at two concerts and remarks calling the Gaza death toll a genocide—a claim Israel rejects.

Sheeran stated the move was made by his promoter, Messina Touring Group, not himself ^[1]. The controversy sparked a wave of solidarity, with all of Sheeran’s support acts dropping out and fans expressing outrage. Macklemore later accused stadium owners of orchestrating his removal and was accused by billionaire Robert Kraft of hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric.

The Dublin show featured surprise performances by Hozier, rap trio Kneecap, and folk band Beoga—acts also on Sheeran’s tour ^[1]. Attendees included fans from Belfast and Cork, many dressed in Palestinian jerseys, keffiyehs, and Irish flags, with vendors selling Palestinian bucket hats and Kneecap merchandise. Nicola McCollough and her daughter Lily Rose Murphy travelled from Belfast, saying Macklemore’s platform should be used to speak out.

Gillian Duffy, from Cork, said the show would have sold out even if Macklemore had performed ten times in Dublin ^[1]. Jess O'Riordan, also from Cork, called it 'absolutely appalling' that Macklemore was kicked off Sheeran’s tour.

Macklemore has pledged that proceeds from the tour will support Palestinian humanitarian organisations ^[1]. He will perform in Paris on Thursday and London on Friday. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza began after the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict, a figure the UN considers reliable. Israel maintains its operations are lawful self-defence. The story was first reported by BBC News.