Pictures: Lord Mayor in great voice at launch of Cork Folk Festival

IT’S not every folk festival that is kicked off with a song from the Lord Mayor, but Councillor Kieran McCarthy’s speech at the launch of the 44th Cork Folk Festival began “How oft do my thoughts in their fancy take flight…”

The Árdmheara was in fine voice, as ever, and he gave it down De Banks, as St Peter’s on North Main Street hosted the festival launch this week.

In his remarks, Cllr McCarthy said that the festival was filled with the very best of Cork, and what he could particularly see in it was strong connections, something he felt could only benefit the wider community.

“A more connected community is a safer community for everyone living in it, because with building stronger relationships comes more opportunities to talk, share, and support one another,” Mr McCarthy said.

“And in the world we find ourselves, post covid, societal reconstruction, war, climate change, and where positive societal values such as equality are threatened, festivals such as this matter more so than ever before.”

Following on from the Lord Mayor’s example, Waterford singer Karan Casey, whose show “The Women We Will Rise” runs at the Everyman from September 27 to 30, sang at the launch, as did Máire Ní Chéileachair, John Neville, and Mary Green and Noel Shine of Greenshine.

The folk festival, this year in its 44th year, will see over 200 musicians playing in over 40 concerts, gigs and seisiúns across the city, running from September 27 to October 1.

Headlining this year will be a trio of Ireland’s finest musicians, accordion maestro Sharon Shannon, blues and jazz singer Mary Coughlan and senator and singer Frances Black.

They will take to the stage in the Opera House for the headline gig on Sunday, October 1.

Folk legend Martin Carthy, who inspired contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, is among the international acts featured in this year’s line-up. The 82-year-old English singer and guitarist has long been a visitor to these shores.

Jim Walsh, festival chairman and one of its founders, told The Echo that he was delighted it was hitting its 44th year.

“For a time in the mid-80s, we didn’t expect to survive, but we have managed to do so, through thick and thin, and we’re bigger and better than ever,” he said.

Mr Walsh said this year’s festival promised to have many high points, and he pointed to the headline act as one to which he was looking forward.

“The Opera House on the Sunday night will feature Frances Black, Mary Coughlan, and Sharon Shannon, all of whom have appeared in the folk festival in past years. In fact, back in the early ’80s, Sharon, as a young one, played in the box concerts in the folk festival, she wasn’t even known then.

“It’s great to see them all back in the folk festival.” Another high point, he said, was sure to be John Spillane and Cónal Creedon’s lunchtime gig in the Triskel on the Saturday, when the two veteran Cork writers will unite for a feast of stories and song.

Mr Walsh added that the launch date, September 12, had bittersweet connotations for the festival organisers, as it was the fifth anniversary of the passing of Timmy “The Brit” McCarthy, who had been instrumental in helping set up the festival, all those years ago.

“It’s great that we’ve survived this long, and we’re looking forward to the 50th,” he said.

Festival organiser William “Hammy” Hammond agreed that 44 years was a long haul for anyone.

“We have a great line-up, all the people that you’d expect, and some you wouldn’t, so hopefully we’ll do our best to bring trad music all over the city of Cork, streets, bars, restaurants, cafés, theatres, whatever, we’ll do whatever it takes to make this one great folk festival,” he said.

For further information, see https://www.corkfolkfestival.com/