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Sunday World

Aisling O'Loughlin says ‘story' of controversial rap video in Freemasons Hall was ‘buried'

Last month, it emerged that the video to the song 'Spit in it!' featuring Irish rapper Eskimo Supreme was shot inside the Freemasons' HQ on Molesworth Street Former Xposé presenter Aisling O'Loughlin has suggested the 'story' of a controversial music video featuring a rapper on Conor McGregor's music label in the historic Freemasons Hall in Dublin was 'buried'. Last month, it emerged that the video to the song 'Spit in it!' featuring Irish rapper Eskimo Supreme was shot inside the Freemasons' HQ on Molesworth Street. The video that made grotesque sexual references to the late British queen was condemned as obscene and 'morally repugnant'. It was set in the same venue used by McGregor and right-wing US commentator Tucker Carlson to film an interview, which later resulted in the Irish Freemasons apologising and pledging to make a €2,500 charity donation. Conspiracy theorist O'Loughlin offered her take on the controversy in a post on X where she claimed: 'If Conor McGregor really was up against the Irish Establishment - they would have destroyed him for this disgusting video from his record label made in the Grand Lodge of Ireland where he did the Tucker interview. 'It's telling they buried the story.' It's not clear who the 'they' is that she is referring to but the story was widely reported at the time. A piece in the Irish Independent at the time reported how the professionally produced music video included actors dressed as dissident republicans in balaclavas and combat gear imprisoned behind wire in the Victorian room. They yell at an actor playing the Queen, using foul language: 'We are political prisoners and we demand political status.' An explainer below the video states that the British Government has 'unlocked a freak scientific discovery whereby the saliva of Irish dissident republicans morphs a royal family member into a dragon...' including a grotesque sexual reference. It adds: 'Theorists believe that the British Government wanted to create this royal dragon to use as a weapon of war.' In the video, the prisoners are then released one by one to spit on the Queen, following which each one is shot dead by one of the guards. The song, which is dominated by sexualised slurs, plays throughout. At the end of the video, the Queen is transformed into a dragon and is seen flying over London. The lyrics include references to Irish broadcaster Pat Kenny and RTE's The Late, Late Show. Former Xposé presenter Aisling O'Loughlin Having been watched more than 100,000 times on YouTube in the five days since it was posted, comments described it as 'crazy', 'insane', and 'madness'. Philip AJ Daley, grand secretary of the Freemasons in Ireland, later confirmed that a probe is under way in relation to the use of their hall for the video. 'It would be inappropriate to make any further statement until our investigation is complete,' he told the Independent. The Freemasons of Ireland had earlier said that 'incalculable' damage was caused to the organisation by Tucker Carlson's interview with Conor McGregor. A screen grab from the controversial video News in 90 Seconds - May 15th The organisation apologised last month and said it would not have accepted the booking if it knew what the venue was being used for. It said the Grand Lodge Conduct Committee would investigate the use of the Grand Lodge Room, and a risk assessment will be carried out into the security of its venue at 17 Molesworth Street. Lodge rooms will also be only used for 'Lodge purposes' and no 'non-masonic meetings' will be held in the Lodge rooms 'until further notice'. At a meeting of the Grand Masters Council this week, the organisation also decided it would make an anonymous donation of €2,500 to 'an appropriate non-political charity'. Richard S G Ensor, the Grand Master Elect, told members the venue was used for 'grossly inappropriate purposes' by allowing the interview to take place there. 'The Grand Lodge of Ireland does not comment on any political matter and so regrets letting our premises facilitate any political discussion,' he said in an email to members. He said the Freemasons are now 'fighting to restore our reputation' following the airing of the interview. 'The damage that has been caused in recent days is incalculable,' Mr Ensor said. 'I look for your support to get us over this unpleasant time and steer us back on the right path. I am personally abhorred at what has taken place and extend my personal apology to our members, family and friends.' O'Loughlin has previously taken pot shots at McGregor, claiming in December 2023 that gardai used far right 'mercenaries' such as the MMA fighter to confuse and mislead the public following the stabbings on Parnell Square that November. The ex-TV3 star turned conspiracy theorist warned readers of her Substack page to be aware of 'false narratives' that are being built 'to manage the public's perception'. Referring to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, whose 'own cops don't have any faith in his abilities to govern fairly', O'Loughlin says it appears he has 'a little plan in store for those (right on cue) Conor McGregor fans and Antifa mercenaries'. The Tucker Carlson with McGregor 'Take a bow,' she writes. 'Oh look some ready to roll art-work depicting McGregor as some kind of working class hero. 'Not the fame and money-hungry showbiz hard-man who sold out his fans during lockdown by badly reading a government scamdemic script. Sorry but it will take a lot more to convince us this time around. Has he really switched sides? We'll see. 'Looks a lot like more propaganda from where I'm standing. He may be saying all the right things, for now, but what's the end-game here? "Is there money involved? Is McGregor really speaking up out of the goodness of his heart? Highly unlikely.'