Watch: Delight in Cork as Billie Eilish bops to Kabin Crew hit 

International superstar Billie Eilish is welcome in Knocknaheeny anytime, according to a volunteer at Kabin Crew, after she danced to one of the group’s songs in a recent video shared on social media.

The video was filmed after she appeared on comedian Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast this week, with the two dancing to “The Spark” by the Irish children's hip hop groups Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna Crew.

The song went viral across the world when it was first released two years ago.

Jackie Rea, who helped with the creation of the song, and is the mother of Ella and David who performed it, told The Echo that one of the older teens sent the video into a group chat: “She was like ‘lads, I know it’s 2am, but Billie Eilish is dancing to The Spark in the big 26’.

“We thought it was a prank initially, we thought it was AI, but it came from their real accounts. As soon as Ella and David woke up for school I told them.

“The whole lot of them love Billie Eilish, they’re massive diehard fans. When they’re looking for beats to write music to they look for Billie Eilish style beats, so this is crazy for them.” 

Ms Rea, who is also a volunteer tutor, and participant at the Kabin’s adult Song Project, added: “I’d be more the Amy Poehler fan – she plays Joy in Inside Out which my son is a big fan of.” She said that it was great to see the song being spread around again, two years after it was initially released and went viral.

“The fact that music made in Cork is blowing up all over the world is fantastic. There were hundreds of videos of people dancing to it, the amount of times we burst into tears watching them was unreal.

“The kids know now that they can make a song that people all over the world can listen to and connect to, and it was such a positive anthem. 

"It was made in partnership with Music Generation Cork City, so it’s all thanks to them – it really shows the importance of funding youth creativity.” 

The Kabin have several upcoming events like Rap a Mile and Rock the Block on June 6 in the city centre for Cruinniú na nÓg, as well as their adult show on June 26. 

Some of the group’s older students were recently over in Toronto for the premier of Gealtra, which they were involved in.

Ms Rea mentioned that Billie Eilish told the crowd at Electric Picnic in 2023 that she is partly Irish and loves the country, and added: “There’s big crossovers with the way Billie and the kids make music, trying to get their emotions out through the songs.

“She’s an amazing performer, and she’s welcome to visit us anytime. We’ll put the kettle on and get the good biscuits for her.”

It is believed that Billie’s great grandfather came from Lisbealad near Dunmanway in West Cork. William H O’Connell married Catherine T O’Connell, after they both emigrated to Boston. Billie’s full name is Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell.