Declan O'Rourke to return to Cork for Opera House gig

Internationally acclaimed Irish singer/songwriter Declan O’Rourke will make a welcome return to Cork in October, part of a nationwide tour making the 20th anniversary of the release of his seminal album ‘Since Kyrabam’.

Having launched his career in 2000, Declan O’Rourke gradually made a name for himself as an extraordinary writer and performer, building up a solid fan base around the country.

However, the 2004 release of his debut album ‘Since Kyabram’, which went straight in at number five in the album charts, earned him widespread acclaim among critics and the record buying public. It was named Debut Album of the Year by Hot Press, marking the beginning of a remarkable career that has seen O’Rourke evolve into one of Ireland’s most respected singer-songwriters.

The album also resulted in him gaining a number of high-profile fans, including Eddi Reader, Paul Brady and Paul Weller. When asked which song from the past 20 years he most wished he had written Weller replied Galileo, one of the standout tracks from the Since Kyabram album.

Two decades later, to celebrate this iconic milestone, O’Rourke released a special 20th anniversary edition of Since Kyrabam, and played sell out shows at Dublin’s Vicar Street and the Cork Opera House.

The final run of shows celebrating the legacy of the album will include a gig at the Cork Opera House on Friday, October 10.

Reflecting on his musical journey, Declan O’Rourke said: “Since Kyabram was the culmination of years applying myself to the learning of a great craft and infusing it with an identity of my own.

“Getting to make a record was a privilege I took very seriously and when it came time to, I entered the studio with a collection of songs I felt were strong, and distinctly mine. It was a magical time and a dream to watch each of the songs landing.

“But the most unexpected thing for me was to witness something being born that was far beyond anything I had imagined and that had legs to stand up all on its own. Surreal and magical, the experience was something entirely new, and very addictive. But it all happened so fast at the time. So the re-release in celebration of its has been a great chance to go back and absorb Kyabram at a different pace,” he added.

“It sounds as fresh as ever to me, but this time around I had the wonderful sense of just being a passenger, and of how lucky I am to have been a part of it all.”

Tickets for Declan O’Rourke at the Cork Opera House are on sale at https://declanorourke.com/tour.