An Irish company with links to the controversy around USAID funding for an Irish musical event promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), received over €1 million in government funding over the last three years.
Other Voices received the grants from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports, and Media.
Remarks made by the new United States Press Secretary regarding the Biden Administration’s spending on DEI initiatives opened up a can of worms last week.
It emerged that a live “DEI musical” event in Ireland was a central part of the controversy, after Americans reacted angrily to the news that $70,000 worth of taxpayer funding had been spent, via the USAID fund, on a live musical event here.
It transpired that the funding – $70,884 – had been transferred to Ceiliuradh Company Limited by Guarantee in 2022. The company is owned by Philip King and Nuala O’Connor, the husband and wife duo who are behind Other Voices, also based in Co Kerry. Ceiliuradh Company was tasked with delivering “a live musical event to promote the US and Irish shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.”
We are delighted to accept Ambassador Cronin’s invitation to bring Other Voices back to Deerfield and to partner with Rethink Ireland for this event. It’s all the more exciting as we will now have a live audience enjoying great music and conversation in this beautiful house while also streaming the whole evening live as it happens to audiences across the world,” Mr King said in 2022.
However, the diversity gig was described by President Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, as “wasteful” and an “abuse” of US taxpayer funds.
While the Trump administration did not name the event in question, the same month the funding was given, in September 2022, a live event took place at the US Embassy in Dublin. ‘Other Voices: Dignity – Towards a More Equitable Future’ was a production which aimed to “showcase the very best of Irish and American talent with a diverse programme,” and to “fulfill the US Embassy’s mission to promote diversity, inclusion and equality.”
The Department of Arts and Culture is listed as a supporter of the production by Other Voices, and now it has emerged that Other Voices received an additional €1.1 million from the government department for the last three years.
Not only was Ceiliruradh Company Limited in receipt of US foreign aid agency cash to produce the diversity gathering – but now we know that Mr King’s other company, Other Voices, also received over €1 million from the Department of Tourism and Culture from 2022-2024, and prior to that, an additional €400,000 from the government department in 2020.
In 2020, €400,000 in funding was provided by the same government department towards Other Voices “Courage 2” Programme. The programme was produced by Other Voices alongside RTÉ and IMRO, and said it aimed to deliver “uplifting, inspiring performances from brilliant artists to the public during the COVID-19 crisis.”
In 2022, Other Voices received €500,000 from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports, and Media. In 2023, it received €320,000, and a further €320,000 was given in grants to Other Voices in 2024.
South Winds Blow
It has emerged that Philip King and Nuala O’Connor are also listed as owners of South Wind Blows Ltd, set up in 2006, alongside Tina Moran. Other Voices is produced by the company South Wind Blows, which is described as Ireland’s leading creative production company “who have been at the forefront of music television and cultural programming for over 30 years.”
On Sunday nights, RTE hosts “The South Wind Blows,” presented by Mr King from 10-11pm. Mr King is described as “a curator and producer of bespoke cultural events.” As well as being a presenter on RTE, he teamed up with the national broadcaster in 2023 to present “An Old Song Re-Sung.” The live concert in October 2023 marked 100 years of the Irish State, as part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023.
In July 2024, RTE’s Director General, Kevin Bakhurst, told a Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media debate that he had been in contact with Mr King “about the potential for investing more” in Other Voices, “and getting more out of that partnership.”
Other Voices will make its return to RTÉ this Spring – for a new six-part series on RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player to be televised on Thursdays from 20 February to 27 March.
RTÉ said that Other Voices was made possible thanks to the support of Reed, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Kerry County Council and IMRO Ireland.
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