Shell to Sea fundraiser at the Spailpín Fánach, Cork on Wednesday

Music and spoken word in solidarity with the communities under Garda occupation

Following on the heels of our previous two Cabarets, the Cork Shell to Sea benefit gig on Wednesday night last was a splendid and resounding success. We were told we have a name for providing the best entertainment in town!
Big thanks to Karan Casey and Niall Vallelly, Ger Woulfe, Mick Flannery, Hank and Ray, Diarmuid Ó Dálaigh and Con Creedon. Thanks too to Niamh who did the door all night and thanks to Tom O’Connor for getting it all started and getting the line-up together. There are others to thank too – all those who helped along the way to a memorable extravaganza.

Wednesday night’s gig treated a packed crowd of over 100 to a night of music and spoken word which lasted from 8pm to closing time. Old faces from the S2S campaign Cork massive and new faces mixed, mingled and together raised over €800 for the Cork branch, the Shell to Sea campaign and the Rossport Solidarity Camp. It was so heartening to see so much support for the campaign after such a difficult week.
Karan and Niall kicked off the night with ace concertina playing and song. They did great banter about having three jigs named after two daughters which made the crowd laugh. Ger Woulfe then followed with a strong folk set, with an encore at the end, a mixture of own works and enjoyable covers. Con Creedon of ‘Under the Goldie Fish’ renown read from his own novel (pardon me Con but the name escapes me I know it was on the radio I listened to it!) and other works of his. Mick Flannery followed with country blues licks and ballads, then Hank and Ray, with wistful country songs which touched the heart. Poet Diarmuid Ó Dálaigh then waylaid the serenaded audience with well-armed words and verses that never failed to hit their mark - “the pigs are the real rent-a-mob in Mayo!” Ger Woulfe returned to stage to wrap up the night giving us all the perfect send off.
After a week when the boys in blue were beating people up because they didn’t want to be poisoned by Shell/Statoil/Marathon unto the third generation or because they wanted their gas back, the entertainment, and the big crowd of familiar and new faces was therapy for our battered yet unbowed spirits.