Boyband Broken Hill ask Young People Not to Smoke

Date: 23 February 2004

At a press conference in Dublin today, two days before Ash Wednesday, one of Ireland’s leading boy bands, Broken Hill asked Ireland’s young people not to smoke. All five band members are non-smokers. At a press call today in the Herbert Park Hotel, Dublin all five band members met the media in ‘Be Smokefree’ T-shirts.

Broken Hill band member Marc Murray said today, “unfortunately some young people think its cool to smoke - we in the band think its cool not to smoke. We all know about the health problems, cancer and stuff, - but its more than that – it’s the ugly smell off your clothes and hair and breath that I personally don’t like” The other band members are John, Enzo, Andy and Jay-B.

Broken Hill were established in 2003 and recently reached no 2 in the Irish Charts with ‘Just When I needed You Most’ and ‘Bounce with Me’. The band has a growing fan base – and often visits schools as part of their promotion work. The Band is managed by Keith Duffy.

Valerie Coghlan, Administrator of ASH Ireland said today, “We really appreciate the initiative taken by Broken Hill here to-day. Too many young people experiment with tobacco and then become addicted. If they continue as smokers it will be the most likely cause of their death. We also want to stress that Broken Hill approached ASH Ireland with this idea – and we have merely acted as facilitators in getting their important message to a wider audience.”