Cork musician, Rory McDonnell, took home the coveted first place prize in this year’s Clancy Brothers Songwriting Competition.
Rory, who plays under the stage name Actor Actor, won with his song ‘Twisted Wrecks’ which he performed on the night with Katie Conway in the beautiful Nano Nagle Chapel, Carrick-on-Suir. Rory is now set to release his next EP with ‘Twisted Wrecks’ as the title track.
The runners up were Alan Tobin with ‘Stars in a Broadway Sky’, and Gary Burke and Katie Carpenter with ‘Falling into Place’.
The three finalists performed their song at a concert during the Clancy Brothers Festival of Music and Art 2016 Launch Party on May 26th as part of a 15 minute set, after which the winner was announced.
With a prize including cash sponsored by IMRO, a day in a recording studio at Crossroads Recording, Kilkenny, a video by All That Can Be Productions, Dungarvan, CD duplication by Duplication Ireland, and web and a premium design package from InMusik.co including artwork, covers and online banner design, Rory is all set for the next step in his career.
‘The talent of these songwriters is incredible’, said Róisín Clancy, awarding the prizes, co-creator of the new show ‘Waters Wide’ which premieres in Carrick-on-Suir on Saturday June 4.
With 260 entries from all over Ireland and abroad, and a total prize fund of €5,000, the Clancy Brothers Songwriting Competition has grown to become one of the biggest and most prestigious competitions of its type Ireland.
The shortlisting panel had more than 20 hours of music to listen to before sending the short list to the final judges, Róisín Clancy, Mike Hanrahan and Stephen Brett, (InMusik).
‘It was wonderful to see the top three perform in the beautiful Nano Nagle Chapel’, said Pete MacGowan, competition organiser, ‘and for them to play a set of songs so we were able to get a real sense of their music and of their talents as songwriters and musicians. I’d also like to thank the judges and Liam Butler for being such a great MC on the night’.
‘We’d like to thank our sponsors, IMRO, Duplication Ireland, InMusik.co, Crossroads Recording, All That Can Be Productions, The Tudor Artisan Hub and the Clancy Brothers Festival of Music and Art for helping us to make this competition such a success’.
