In the Ireland of 1986, with emigration levels among the highest since the birth of the state, many of the country's biggest names felt it was time for action.
And so they organised 'Self-Aid' - in many ways a copy of Live-Aid - a 14 hour telethon concert, bringing together the likes of Christy Moore, Elvis Costello, The Pogues, Clannad and headliners U2 to name a few.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing, and the gig had many detractors, even leading to one act pulling out at the eleventh hour.
Gaven Reilly was joined by Donal Fallon for another episode of Hidden Histories to find out more.