A concert raising funds for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) will take place at DeBarras Folkclub in Clonakilty on Sunday, April 7 at 6.30pm.
This event is an evening of sublime words, music and song with the impressive line-up of Peter Broderick, Susan O’Neill, Liam O’Maonlaoi and Little John Nee.
Organisers are hoping to raise much needed funds for MSF to help some of the thousands of children displaced and orphaned by the brutal conflict in Gaza.
According to UNICEF, before this onslaught on Gaza started, more than 500,000 children were already in need of medical services; today the organisation estimates that more than one million children are in need of such help.
As well as providing medical aid on the ground and looking after thousands of traumatised wounded children, MSF are working hard to secure the flow of essential supplies including water, food, fuel, medicines and medical equipment.
The organisers say the generosity of contributing artists has been wonderful.
“Their eagerness and willingness to partake is heartwarming. We are so grateful to them and all the other selfless contributors, giving their time to this humanitarian cause.”
As always, the Clonakilty community has stepped up: DeBarras Folkclub, Walsh Printers, Lettercollum Recording Studio and Geata Arts are all playing a big part in putting together this event.
Sunday April 7 will play out in three parts with the concert closing the event. For the whole of that afternoon some wonderful local musicians including Kevin McNally, Eithne O’Mahony, Paula K O’Brien and Oisin Walsh Peelo will play a ‘session’ in the front bar of DeBarras where there will be a ‘pass the bucket’ for donations.
Local culinary genius Caitlin Ruth will be doing one of her pop-up’s at The Olive Branch Healthfood Emporium on Spiller’s Lane early in the afternoon serving up her mouthwatering empanadas that will have your tastebuds doing a salsa dance. Meals must be pre-booked. Keep an eye on Caitlin’s Instagram page for the menu and booking link.
All information and tickets for this will be announced closer to the time on Instagram @caitlinruthfood and @theolivebranchclonakilty.
This wonderful food event is generously sponsored by The Olive Branch, Caitlin Ruth Foods, Down2Earth Materials, and The Clonakilty Food Company. For any more information regarding any of the above events please contact Olive at olivefinn1@gmail.com
All online tickets for the evening concert are now sold out but some remaining tickets are still for sale in-store from The Olive Branch Healthfood Emporium.
The organisers would like to thank all the amazing contributors and supporters of this day.
All proceeds will go to The Gaza Emergency Regional Fund.
To make a donation any time please go to www.msf.ie
Little John Nee will host the evening concert. A good friend of Clonakilty since the 1980s, when he arrived with Galway’s street theatre group Macnas during the town’s renowned busking festival, Nee is an award-winning writer, performer and musician. His unique style and wit is sure to add a special energy and entertainment to the evening.
American musician and composer Peter Broderick is no stranger to West Cork, having played at a number of venues in recent years but this will be his first gig at De Barra’s in Clonakilty. Known internationally for a wide range of solo projects, collaborations and compositions for cinema and dance, this gifted multi-instrumentalist boasts a range of styles, from discography with labels including ‘Bella Union’, ‘Erased Tapes’ and ‘Beacon Sound’ to classical and experimental music.
Described as a songwriter of many depths with a timeless voice, Susan O’Neill, who also performs under the moniker ‘SON’, is one of Ireland’s brightest talents. Her first album ‘Found Myself Lost’ was one of Hot Press magazine’s ‘Albums of the Year’ and garnered her a number of opportunities, including joining Sharon Shannon on her sold-out tour of Australia and New Zealand.She has collaborated on a number of occasions with multi-platinum, award-winning artist, Mick Flannery, with whom she released a duet, ‘Baby Talk’ to rave reviews. Eclectically fusing traditional Irish folk with rock, soul, gospel and blues, O’Neill’s husky vocals combined with her superb guitar technique, loop pedals and trumpet, have wowed audiences all over the world.
One of Ireland’s most charismatic and soulful musicians on the traditional Irish music circuit, Liam Ó Maonlaí is possibly best known as the frontman of The Hothouse Flowers. Ó Maonlaí’s passion for music sees him blending an eclectic mix of folk, blues, gospel, soul, rock, and more with his amazing vocals and an array of instrumental mastery from piano to flute, harmonica to bodhran. Spanning over three decades, his career has seen him achieve number one hits in over twenty countries and he continues to reinvent himself with each performance.
