Top comedy, rap, punk poetry, reggae and pop acts are to provide the entertainment at the at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Lift the Burden march and rally in Dublin, on February 9.
Among the acts that have been comfirmed to perform during the march and at a subsequent rally in Dublin's Merrion Square, are: Comedian Barry Murphy or Apres Match and Irish Pictorial Weekly fame; Mundy and his band; Finglas rapper MissElayneous; punk poet Jinx Lennon and well-known UB40 tribute band Promises & Lies.
Congress Assistant General Secretary Sally Anne KInahan said that while the February 9 protest had a very serious intent, the aim was to make the event a family-friendly occasion.
"We are asking people to march and protest to secure a deal on Ireland's unpayable and unjust €64 billion bank debt burden - but we want to ensure that they can do so in a safe, friendly and entertaining atmosphere. Along with the range of musical and comic acts that will perform, we also hope to have activities such as face-painting for children.
"We are encouraging families to participate, because ultimately this is about an unfair debt that will be passed on to our children and our grandchildren," Ms Kinahan said.
The Dublin protest will assemble from 1.30pm in Cook Street (near Wood Quay) and the entertainment will commence when the march reaches Merrion Square.
There will also be entertainment at the rallies in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Sligo on February 9 with details to be announced in the coming days.
Last week Congress warned that Ireland faced 'the most dire consequences" without a significant deal on the country's €64 billion bank debt burden.
A delegation from Congress will meet with officials from the Troika, in Dublin tomorrow (February 4) to discuss the country's bank debt burden, which has already cost each person in Ireland €9000.
The theme of the February 9 protests is Lift the Burden:Jobs Not Debt