Ireland

Band Aid archive arrives for posterity after Bob Geldof donation

National Library of Ireland says some materials to be digitised and available free online

Band Aid and Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof with then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher on February 28th, 1985. FIle photograph: Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Band Aid and Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof with then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher on February 28th, 1985. FIle photograph: Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Thu May 03 2018 - 15:33

Bob Geldof's Band Aid archive has arrived in Ireland.

An archivist will spend up to two years cataloguing memorabilia from the famous 1984 campaign for those affected by famine in Ethiopia, the National Library of Ireland (NLI) said.

The Boomtown Rats frontman is giving the State hundreds of letters, artwork, poetry and musical recordings after the material had accumulated in a warehouse in London.

Much of it will be digitised and put on display for the world to see at the NLI in Dublin.

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A statement from the library said: “In April 2018 the archive was brought from London to Dublin.

The Live Aid concert at Wembley stadium in north London in July 1985. File photograph: PA
The Live Aid concert at Wembley stadium in north London in July 1985. File photograph: PA

“A contract archivist will spend 18-24 months cataloguing the collection, at which point it will be available to all researchers through the National Library’s Special Collections reading room.

“Selective digitisation will be carried out thereafter, and the digitised materials launched online with free access anywhere in the world, subject to copyright and data protection restrictions.”

Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Geldof and co-writer Midge Ure’s first version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? raised £8 million for famine relief in Ethiopia.

They gathered a group of musicians together in 1984 for the charity single. It featured U2's Bono, George Michael, Duran Duran, Phil Collins and Bananarama, among many others.

Bob Geldof (bottom right) has a word with Prince Charles while David Bowie chats with Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen during the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, July 13th, 1985. File photograph: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Bob Geldof (bottom right) has a word with Prince Charles while David Bowie chats with Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen during the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, July 13th, 1985. File photograph: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

It helped inspire the Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia on July 13th, 1985, and the Sport Aid campaign in 1986, all of which raised millions more.

The library statement added: “The NLI will develop a major exhibition in the National Photographic Archive to engage visitors of all ages and from across the world and explore opportunities for an international travelling exhibition.”

Bob Geldof, chairman of the Band Aid Trust, at the announcement of the donation of the Band Aid Trust archive to the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin, late last year. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Bob Geldof, chairman of the Band Aid Trust, at the announcement of the donation of the Band Aid Trust archive to the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin, late last year. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

The archive reveals the enormous level of organisation behind Band Aid.

A trove of documents, many on fading fax paper, captures the work of those who looked after fleets of ships and trucks which distributed relief.

It was the era of strikes in Britain, but many workers suspended their industrial action to help, Sir Bob has said.

Revealing letters from public figures will be among those disclosed as well as reports on projects helped in Africa since 1985. – Press Association