All folk-us on Cork!
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Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Deirdre Forde playing a bodhrán with members of Douglas Comhaltas as she launched the 43rd Cork Folk Festival. Photos: Celeste BurdonImage 2 of 3
Jim Walsh, Michelle Carew, Trish Murphy and William Hammond at the launch.Image 3 of 3
John O’Leary and John Murphy.Musicians from every corner of the country and beyond will descend upon Leeside later this month for the 43rd Cork Folk Festival.
The famous festival runs from 29 September until 2 October and will feature more than 150 musicians performing in 20 venues around the city.
This year’s headlining act will be the one and only Mary Black accompanied by Bill Shanley, Pat Crowley, Nick Scott, Richie Buckley and Liam Bradley. They will play Cork Opera House on 2 October with support from Kildare-based singer songwriter Gráinne Hunt.
Trad lovers will be delighted to hear that Na Deise band DANÚ will also feature in the festival along with legendary Chieftains’ musicians Sean Keane and Matt Molloy. Other trad musicians taking part include 3 duos: harpist Máire Ní Chathasaigh with guitarist Chris Newman; concertina player Caitlín Nic Gabhann with fiddler Ciarán Ó Maonaigh; and guitarist Seamie O’Dowd with piper Leonard Barry.
At Live at St Luke’s, Cork Folk Festival will celebrate the album launch of composer and fiddle player Clare Sands. The Fiddle Fair will be celebrating 30 years with Liz Doherty’s Fiddlesticks, North Cregg, Catriona McKay & Chris Stout, and Lena Jonsson & Johanna Juhola.
Over at An Spailpín Fánach, audiences will enjoy concerts with Gerry Harrington, Peter Browne, Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich, Charlie Piggott, Matt Cranitch, and Jackie Daly, plus Thomas McCarthy, Brendan Mulvihill, Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford.
This year’s Gals at Play will feature female composers Mary Greene, Niamh Murphy, Sarah O’Gorman, Alannah Thornburgh, and Aileen Mythen.
A Celebration of Sliabh Luachra will feature Eoin Stan O’Sullivan, Emma O’Leary, Pat Fleming, Maura O’Connor and Bryan O’Leary.
The festival line-up also includes a Music Network Tour featuring Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Mark Redmond and Cormac De Barra, and Frankie Gavin and Catherine McHugh. Aran Island singer songwriter Padraig Jack will feature in Coughlan’s Bar and Emma Langford from Limerick in Cyprus Avenue. The final gig of the festival will be the Cork Cajun band Two Time Polka at The Crane Lane.
Some other events will include the Céilí Mór at Douglas GAA; a series of music workshops; Storytime for Children; Song Session with Thomas McCarthy; the screening of the film ‘Dark Horse On The Wind, The Life and Songs of Liam Weldon’; and an all-abilities trad session with Creative Tradition.
For tickets and a full programme of events, visit corkfolkfestival.com.