Oscar-winning Cillian a ‘graduate’ of Cork's thriving ’90s arts scene

Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win this week is an historic first for an Irish actor and one of the big topics of discussion around the country.

Cillian is a great ambassador for Cork, his hometown, and for Ireland and for the arts, and has been in regular attendance at gigs and shows here. Most recently, he has helped curate the bi-yearly Sounds from a Safe Harbour music festival.

Those of us who remember Cillian from the early days of his career have been reminiscing about his music group, Sons of Mr Green Genes. Cillian emerged at a very special time for the music and arts scenes in Cork, and he has always been effusive in his praise for an era which helped shape his artistic perspective at a crucial time in his career.

I was thinking about the 1990s era recently, having just done a podcast interview with Shane and Greg of Fish Go Deep, about Sir Henry's and the impact of various record shops, pirate radio, venues and other components of the scene that was thriving in Cork at the time. 

It wasn't responsible for Cillian's success: He is the kind of personality who would have reached the summit of whatever path he took, but it’s worth looking at some of the places and spaces that shaped the journey.

In 2024, there are not many spaces to hone one’s craft, not in Cork and not in other cities either, and as we rush to celebrate Cillian, it’s an opportunity to recognise that artists of many disciplines will flourish if they have more pathways to create and to try things out.

Sons of Mr Green Genes would have been playing regularly in Cabaret Deluxe, a wonderful Sunday evening affair that took place in the old Half Moon Theatre at the back of the Cork Opera House. I was among the residents who used to DJ in the main room and we could be joined by the likes of Paul Murphy or Shane Johnson in what was a pretty eclectic affair. Guests included Jason Boardman, Mr Scruff and Mark Rae, and the music policy was freeform, so you’d hear everything from soul, funk, jazz and hip-hop to house and drum n’ bass. The smaller Green Room, by the stage door, was where you might encounter other DJs and live acts, such as Cillian’s group. On occasion, the main room of the Opera House would be accessed by Cabaret Deluxe, and the dancefloor would become even bigger.

The Green Genes were famously offered a record contract by Acid Jazz, but by then Cillian had his eyes on other opportunities. 

Corcadorca’s Pat Kiernan put on a memorable production of A Clockwork Orange, by Enda Walsh, in Sir Henry’s that helped inspire the young actor, who got his first big break with Enda in Disco Pigs soon afterwards. The rest of the story is well known and we are all very proud of Cillian's achievement on the global stage. As a youngster finding his way and trying to work it all out, he spent those crucial last few years in Cork going out to gigs and clubs, playing them, and listening to Radio Friendly, which started broadcasting in 1996. 

He has previously spoken about how radio helped broaden his musical horizons and nearly 30 years on he often hosts a popular radio show himself, broadcasting occasionally on the BBC.

There were more creative club and live spaces in the mid 1990s. It’s a lot more difficult to do business now and it’s a lot more expensive for teenagers and youngsters who are trying to live outside home. That era allowed Cillian and his generation to try things out and experiment with music, drama and other pursuits. It didn’t happen overnight but the years of trying to work it all out have probably helped him remain the same balanced, down-to-earth guy he ever was, even as he became a big star. Music and art and culture are very important to us around these parts so, hopefully, our next big stars will find the space and time in Cork, and elsewhere, to help develop their own practice. 

Congrats Cillian!