Hozier and Kneecap join Macklemore for Free Palestine gig

Hozier, Kneecap and Beoga were among the Irish acts to join Macklemore for his Free Palestine tour gig at Dublin's 3Arena tonight.

All proceeds of the tour are going to organisations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement, according to organisers.

Actor Liam Cunningham delivered the opening remarks at the 3Arena gig.

The US rapper had promised "many incredible surprise guests" in the lead-up to the concert.

The Dublin show is the first of three European dates, with performances scheduled for Paris on Thursday and London on Friday.

Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore, whose hits include Thrift Shop, Can't Hold Us and Same Love, announced the tour after being removed from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour in September.

The decision followed comments Macklemore made in support of Palestinians during a concert in New Jersey. Sheeran subsequently said the decision to remove the rapper had been made by the tour promoter, not him.

Irish acts Beoga and Aaron Rowe were among the performers who subsequently withdrew from Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore.

Macklemore said he wanted to bring together artists who had used their platforms to express support for Palestinians.