TV: A musical hooley in iconic De Barra’s in West Cork
The second episode of the series Seisiún on RTÉ1 on Friday at 8pm heads to the Cork venue, where we meet the owner Ray Blackwell (pictured on the cover of TV Week with presenter, Kerry musician Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh) and the founding proprietor Bobby Blackwell.
In the programme, we hear stories about how Noel Redding, the base player from the Jimmy Hendrix experience, came to hold court here for nearly 20 years in the renowned Folk Club, attracting national and international talents who helped change the cultural and music character of the town itself.
Another residency of renown is John Spillane and his Band of Wrens, who makes the pilgrimage to perform in De Barra’s for this episode, as he has done for the past 23 years.
New kids on the block, The Cardinals from Kinsale, also deliver a powerhouse of a performance on the famous venue’s intimate stage.
Local talent is at the heart of the episode, with performances from some of West Cork’s most talented traditional musicians, including Jimmy Murray and Richard Lucey and local singer songwriter Rawney.
Last, but not least, West Cork group The Kates rock the stage with their five-piece all-female ensemble of local musicians, who use spellbinding harmonies to create their unique new sound.
The four-part series Seisiún, showcasing great Irish music, began last week in The Roisin Dubh in Galway, and future episodes will visit The Spirit Store in Dundalk and Cleeres in Kilkenny City.
Host Nic Amhlaoibh is the former lead singer for the traditional music group Danú.
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