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A controversial Welsh brass band who have been banned by a social media company, denied calling a politician a “lying cunt” although we have found the evidence, proclaimed publicly “fuck you” to Brexiteers, and declared about a UK cabinet minister “Go fuck yourself you Tory bastard“, are to be star performers at a BBC Wales concert which is meant to be “Suitable for all ages”, The Eye can reveal.
BBC Radio Cymru and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales are staging the ‘Red Wall’ at Pontio in Bangor to mark “the amazing journey supporting our national football team through Euro 2020”.
Included on the roster of performers is The Barry Horns who have been described as “a foul mouthed bullying group of yobs” in a comment to The Eye, said on Twitter that they didn’t use the “‘C’ bomb”, despite the facts, and been reported to the Football Association of Wales (FAW).
The ‘lying cunt’ remark was directed at politician Nigel Farage and the ‘Tory bastard’ comment on Twitter was aimed at Jeremy Hunt.
The band were barred from the social media platform, and after the ban was lifted they said they were “beautiful”, but serious questions have been raised about this contentious decision.
The former leader of Plaid Cymru (PC) Leanne Wood spoke out against the restriction at the time saying on Twitter: “… you ban the Barry Horns? For defending the NHS?”, this was then re-tweeted by PC MP Jonathan Edwards.
The Barry Horns clearly support their party because before the Twitter ban, they exhorted followers to “Join @Plaid Cymru”.
The governing body of football in Wales, The FAW, were contacted about what has happened, and asked by one fan: “I would like to know what the FAW position is on the Barry Horns who having affiliated themselves to South Wales football now appear to have adopted an aggressive political agenda.
“Some of their language on Twitter is worse than I have ever endured on football terraces. Is this the sort of agenda the FAW condone?”.
The Barry Horns are an eleven-piece brass band, made up of fans of the Welsh national football team, created in 2011 by BBC Wales promos director ‘Fez’ Watkins.
Their first public appearance was outside the Wales v England World Cup qualifying match in Cardiff on 26 March 2011.
They also appeared at the Welsh Cup Final in the same year, which was broadcast on television.
In March 2017, they were banned from the Republic of Ireland v Wales World Cup 2018 qualifying match in Dublin.
In September of the same year, they gave a headline performance at the first Welsh Independence music festival in association with Yes Cymru, held at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff.
That month The Barry Horns also gave football fans from North Wales a surprise welcome to Cardiff with a performance at Cardiff Central Station ahead of Wales’ match against Austria at the Cardiff City Stadium.
At the time they declared: “The Horns couldn’t wait to greet the train upon its arrival to Caerdydd. Next stop – 3 points!”.
Arriva Trains Wales stated: “The atmosphere on board was amazing with everyone in great spirits all the way down and for The Barry Horns to be welcoming the train and fans into Cardiff was the icing on the cake”.
A Welsh TV company said: “The Barry Horns know how to get a party started, even on a station platform”.
Perhaps The Barry Horns will get the ‘party started’ at Pontio in a performance which is meant to be ‘suitable for all ages’, after saying “fuck you” on Twitter and denying using the “‘C’ bomb” in the face of contrary evidence.
Tomorrow – the ‘friendship’ between two controversial academics.
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