DeBarra’s 40 years of melodies and memories

“There’s Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert, Sydney Opera House – and then there’s DeBarra’s,” Christy Moore once said. DeBarra’s stands as a beloved Cork institution, nurturing the best of live music for four decades. It has hosted everyone from David Bowie, who paid a visit in the 1980s to Noel Redding, former bassist of Jimi Hendrix.

It all started when Eileen Barry married a heavyweight boxer from Portlaoise, Bobby Blackwell. Bobby believed that music would be the saving grace of the pub, and 40 years later that has proved to be the case. Located in Clonakilty, the venue has earned worldwide renown as one of the finest independent and grassroots music venues in Ireland. This weekend, Friday 25 August to Saturday 27 August, they will host DeBarra-Palooza, a feast of free live music events, celebrating the venue’s 40th birthday.

Once you set foot inside the pub, you are steeped in musical heritage. The wall, stage left, is covered in flutes, fiddles, bodhráns, pipes and saxophones. The uileann pipes were played by a Tullamore piper at the Chicago World Fair in 1893. The mandolin criss-crossed Ireland for four years with Paddy Keenan and The Bothy Band. The fender jazz bass guitar belonged to the late Noel Redding, the former Jimi Hendrix bassist, and a celebrated resident of Clonakilty.

Ray Blackwell, manager at DeBarras Folk Club, says: “DeBarras is a very special place but of course, much of that is due to its location. Clonakilty is a magnificent community with DeBarras both figuratively and literally at its centre.

“Leonard Cohen said of his time spent in a Zen Buddhist monastery that ‘pebbles in a bag polish each other’, I think of that quote often when I think of Clonakilty, and it’s been a privilege and an honour for me and my family to serve this community for the last 4 decades. Hopefully, we’ll continue to do so for a few more years yet!”

This weekend, the public is invited to mark the 40th anniversary of DeBarra's. On Friday evening, the lineup features ADT, Fir Beag, Windings, and Naive Ted for a night of live performances. The festivities continue on Saturday 26 August, with a DeBarras House Party showcasing acts like The Céilí Allstars, West Cork Ukulele Orchestra, Rawney, The Monks, The Kates, Christopher Luke, Donal Tupper, Dj Gustaff’s Garden Party, along with guests. Sunday 27 August will see the return of DeBarras' cherished trad session, bringing together musicians who've contributed over the years.

DeBarra-Palooza events are free to attend, no booking necessary.