Noel Redding’s memory lives on

Legendary Jimi Hendrix bassist and West Cork resident Noel Redding passed away 18 years ago in Clonakilty and DeBarra’s Folk Club has marked the anniversary in a very special way.

To celebrate the life of this world-famous musician, a short story by local writer and poet Dave Lordan called ‘Magically Real – Noel Redding in West Cork’ has been published on the iconic West Cork venue’s website.

In the story, Lordan shares cherished memories and stories about Redding’s life after he settled on Cork’s coast in the early ‘70s where he would spend the rest of his life.

In his story, Lordan writes: “How many awesome nights out for how many people did Noel generate in his Clonakilty life? How many times over and over did he set a rainy night on fire for locals and for our multifarious guests around here? The mind boggles!”

With the anniversary, DeBarra’s launched a new section on their website documenting and preserving the oral history of the music venue, as well as their wider community’s musical stories and memories.

Commenting on the project, Ray Blackwell of DeBarra’s Folk Club said it was one they had been dreaming about for a long time.

“The first instalment, ‘Magically Real – Noel Redding in West Cork’, is a tribute to Noel and the many gifts he brought to, and received from, our west Cork community. I think you’ll get a kick out of it,” he said.

DeBarra’s has also launched a membership option on its website which offers people the choice to join and become a supporter of DeBarra’s Folk Club.

Membership offers a number of perks such as access to view old gig guides, posters, photos and ephemera, as well as discount codes, early bird ticket option, exclusive merchandise and access to select live audio recordings from the venue’s extensive archives over the years.

To become a member and to read Dave Lordan’s short story ‘Magically Real – Noel Redding in West Cork’, visit debarra.ie.

Also, DeBarra’s is asking anyone with a musical memory or story from the venue over the years to get in touch by emailing eolas@debarra.ie.

“What the musician produces for others is joy – joy in our bodies, joy in our souls – something no mathematics or accountancy can sum-up. It is such Joy, that comes to us always in mysterious ways and never ever in scientific ways, that makes life worth living – or at least worth bearing, no?” writes Lordan.