Largest line-up ever for Ballincollig Winter Music Festival

The Ballincollig Winter Music Festival, which begins in just under three weeks, has the largest line-up so far, the event’s founder has said.

The festival is in its 16th edition since 2010 — it missed a year due to covid — and Joe Carey, proprietor of The White Horse, told The Echo this is the first time it has ever run a full week.

“It extends from Monday, January 26, all the way through until Monday, February 2, so it’s the fullest festival we’ve ever had."

“This year we’re bringing in other elements, we have an artist in residence, David Shillinglaw, who’s going to be doing a mural on the back of The White Horse, tying in a lot of local history, and we’ll be having interactions between him and some secondary school art students, so they can learn from him.

“We have comedy as part of the festival for the first time ever. About two years ago myself and Chris Kent started a comedy night, so this is a celebration of that.”

Tuesday, January 27, will see an Oíche Scoraíochta — a free night of stories, song, and dance with Fear an Tí Dick Beamish offering a celebration of stories and lore, idir Gaeilge agus Béarla, in the Rambling House tradition.

“The Wednesday night then will feature Niamh Regan, it’ll be her first headline show in The White Horse after playing a special guest slot to Lisa Hannigan last year,” Mr Carey said.

“She needs no introduction; she has a couple of award-winning albums and is probably one of the most unique folk voices in the country.

“On the Thursday night we have a festival first, almost a panel discussion, entitled ‘Notes from the Earth’, featuring Mary Reynolds, Edwina Guckian, Colm O’Regan, Alannah Thornburg, and Diarmuid Ó Meachair.”

Friday night’s gig presents Pilgrims, featuring Paul Noonan and Brian Crosby, who are — respectively — currently and formerly of Bell XI.

Saturday features ‘Notes from the Margins’, a reading series bringing together writers and artists that give a voice to those on the margins of society, featuring Nashwa Nasreldin, Somaia Abu Nada, James Leonard, Barry Kerr, Martin Leahy, and Batool Abu Akleen.

Saturday night will feature Scullion, with very special guest Inni-K, a show that Mr Carey said was already almost sold-out.

Revered and feted as one of Ireland’s most innovative live bands, Scullion features the talents of Sonny Condell of Tír na nÓg, Philip King, and Robbie Overson.

“On Sunday afternoon, we have a storytelling workshop with Dick Beamish, offering an introduction and reimagining of storytelling,” Mr Carey said.

Sunday’s gig, featuring multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter Lisa Hannigan, is already sold out.

The Ballincollig Winter Music Festival is supported by the Arts Council.

• For booking information, see whitehorse.ie