Author: Breffni Banks

The six finalists of Ardmore Pattern Festival’s Song Contest took to the stage on Wed 24^th July to fight it out for the title of 2013 Song Contest Winner. The challenge was to write a song for Ardmore as well as include themes of The Gathering. Entries came from far and wide, including Kilkenny, Dublin, Australia and Wales. With such an eclectic mix of finalists, the guest judges had their work cut out for them choosing a winner. Music writer and producer Bobby Lee from Youghal joined another Cork native, singer songwriter Nicole Maguire to choose the competition winner.

Finalists played to a crowded An Tobar Bar and gave huge encouragement to all singers, but there could only be one winner. Judges chose Declan Carey who lives in Lucan, Dublin as their winner with his song ‘The Sunny South East’. Scooping the title of winner means that Declan bags himself €500, gets to record his winning track with event sponsors Claycastle Recording Studio in Youghal as well as receiving a commemorative vase.

Declan is originally from Glanmire, Co. Cork and spent much of his childhood visiting Youghal and Ardmore with his parents. He was named Declan after the patron saint of Ardmore, St. Declan; his connection to the village is very strong. Where else would Declan bring his wife on honeymoon but Ardmore and they celebrated their 2 year wedding anniversary the day before the Song Contest final.

“I decided to enter the competition just because of the fond memories I have of Ardmore when I was younger and after I got married. I always loved the beauty of the area, the history and the great sense of community atmosphere in Ardmore. It’s the kind of place that I would love to retire to when the time comes. And that was the starting point for the song.” Declan explained.

Although he’s played the guitar since childhood and written songs since his teens, Declan wasn’t expecting the win “I read about the competition on boards.ie on the songwriter’s forum and then checked out the Pattern Festival website. I was delighted to be named as winner. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was happy that I had a strong song but there were other very strong songs on the night too.”

No stranger to songwriting and performing, Declan wrote and released an album in 2003 with his band Scribble and they toured the country. He also performed all over Ireland in the past with Cork singer songwriter Niall Connolly as well as in the UK, France and New York, however winning the 2013 Song Contest has given Declan some renewed confidence.

Congratulations go to the other five finalists: from Kilkenny, Joe Butler with ‘The Beauty of Ardmore’, from Cork Declan Hassett with ‘Ardmore Dreaming’ sung by Patricia Quirke, from Wales, David Murphy with  ’Ardmore Rocks’ and Ardmore natives, Kenneth Hickey (living in Australia) with ‘Home’ sung by Natalie Lehane and Maeve Brockie with ’My Hometown Ardmore’.

Ardmore Pattern Festival is one of Munster’s most anticipated annual festivals offering over 90 free family friendly events this year from 21^st to 28^th July in the seaside village of Ardmore, Co. Waterford.   For more information about Ardmore Pattern Festival, to become a sponsor or volunteer for next year visit the website or find us on Facebook.

The popular Irish band will bring its sense of stark spiritual curiosity, wonder and illumination mixed with a playful joy to the Harvest music stage, using layers of surprising instrumentation that include more full-sounding string arrangements and dreamy, shapeshifting percussion.

Fronted by Conor O’Brien, who has been nominated for a Mercury Prize, won an Ivor Novello Award, shared the stage with artists like Neil Young, Tindersticks and Fleet Foxes, and contributed to A Harbour of Songs, a record and project curated by The Unthanks pianist, producer and arranger Adrian McNally, the band is sure to deliver a memorable show.
The Harvest music stage will also showcase a range of established, as well as up and coming performers, including Hayseed Dixie, Duke Special, Gareth Dunlop, Belfast Community Gospel Choir and Farriers, with the mystery headline act still to be announced, while an enchanted garden will entertain and amaze children and adults alike.

The festival will take place on Saturday 31st August, 2pm-11pm.
Tickets on sale NOW from http://www.ards-council.gov.uk/What-s-On/Harvest-Music-Festival

Cormac O’ Caoimh has just released the third single ,“There’s Gold There Somewhere”, from his “A New Season for Love” CD. The CD has been compared to A honeyed whiskey drink, a fine cognac on a cold winter’s eve, a warm woolly jumper, a colour – rich mahogany warm and beautiful and a water colour painting and received countless lovely and beautiful reviews from the UK, Canada, US, Slovenia and Ireland and of course the people’s republic of Cork.

Cormac, along with Colum Pettit and Fintan Lucy, provided the music for the Theatre performance of 100% Cork and finished the show singing “There’s gold there somewhere” which touched both the cast and audience of this special and thoughtful show.

100 people representing a cross section of Cork’s population were brought together to tell their stories on stage. In a once-in-a-lifetime theatre event, German documentary superstars Rimini Protokoll team created a living, breathing portrait of Cork on the Cork Opera House stage. The show was performed three times over the Midsummer Festival and the finale including Cormac performing “There’s Gold There Somewhere”. The song touched both the audience and the cast and crew members themselves and became, as one of the cast members described it, their “The soundtrack to this period of my life”

Cormac O Caoimh is a singer-songwriter and classical guitarist from Cork, Ireland. He released his second solo cd “A New Season for Love” and it is currently receiving excellent reviews .He was chosen as Play Irish artist of the month and was featured on the RTE 1 Show Arena. His intimate vocals and exquisite guitar playing is attracting the attention of musicians and music lovers alike. The last single “Remember when we didn’t kiss” topped the ITunes download charts on its release. His new series of videos attracted the attention of Godin Guitars and he is now an official Godin Guitar endorsee.

O Caoimh has picked up some well-known admirers along the way including Ron Sexsmith and Tom Robinson (BBC) and has shared the stage with fellow luminaries; Damien Rice (in the Paradiso, Amsterdam), Declan O Rourke, Josh Rouse to name but a few. He plays all over Ireland and also ventured further afield playing headlining gigs and festivals in Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam, Canada and New York (including Canadian Music Week in Toronto, London Calling in London and various other Folk, Jazz and Rock Festivals).

For further info see http://www.cormaco.net

Limerick-born, London-based synth-pop goddess Maighréad is back with her killer new single Sooner – released by Meon Records on 31 July.

Maighréad’s big soul vocals – think an edgier Annie Lennox, but with even more range – glide effortlessly through her unique blend of emotionally charged lyrics, against a backdrop of achingly hip electro pop.

Twice nominated in the Best Female Category of the Irish Music Television awards, The Irish Times recently singled out Maighréad as one to watch, saying: ‘…electro-pop diva in the making with a fine handle already on the ins and outs of synth-pop machinations, vocal projections and sussed songwriting.’

Maighréad’s super-styled live visual show, a collaboration with Diz_co Visual – who have worked with Roisin Murphy, Yazoo and Kayne West amongst others– packs just as much clout as her voice.

Currently recording follow-up tracks in Cologne, and with Autumn gigs soon to be announced in the UK and Ireland, this ultra-talented self-penned, self-financed anti-diva is one for the top of your playlist.

Worldwide digital release of SOONER is available from 31^st July. Limited edition CDs will available through independent stores in Ireland and the UK. Please see website for details.

For more on Maighréad, visit www.maighread.com