The big guns: Cork's musical legacy

ONE: RORY GALLAGHER
Rory Gallagher has claimed his place among the greats. Not until the emergence of U2 would Ireland see another rock act as widely respected and internationally successful as the legendary bluesman. Once almost enticed to become a member of The Rolling Stones, in the long run he stayed true to himself and remained solo, playing his own brand of fiery rhythm ’n’ blues. A consummate live performer, who was hugely successful across the world, the crowds were with him every step of the way.
Starting off in the showband era, Rory was always destined for greater things. He formed Taste, who were the prototype three-piece, in an era that spawned both Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and released a couple of superb albums. But he could ever only be his own master and so it was appropriate when he moved on to form the Rory Gallagher band, releasing his eponymous debut solo album in 1971. His 1974 album titled simply Irish Tour 1974 is a live classic, but he also developed formidable songwriting skills, with tracks like ‘Philby’ and ‘Last Of The Independents’ representing different aspects of the mercurial guitarist’s personality.
Rory died in June 1995, but his remarkable legacy lives on. There was some wonderful new music on the posthumous Wheels Within Wheels (released in 2003), notably the title track. And his contribution has been recognised with roads named after him in Cork, Dublin and a number of European cities. No less than the late, great guitar-hero deserves...
TWO: SEAN O RIADA
That Bertie Ahern accepted Sean O Riada’s personal collection on behalf of the nation says plenty about the scale of this man’s contribution to Irish music, and the important place he occupies in the country’s musical heritage. Born in Cork city in 1931, O Riada formed the group Ceoltóirí Cualann, who were at the heart of the revival of Irish traditional music that took place during the 1960s, making a huge impact nationwide well before the days of multi media. If it was happening now, he’d be a superstar! Sean was a hugely accomplished composer, writing the music for the influential films Mise Éire and Saoirse: the score for Mise Éire was particularly inspiring. But he also took the music to the people, playing a series of live dates, the most famous of which was captured on the ground-breaking O Riada Sa Gaeity LP.
His collection is housed in Boole Library in UCC, with representatives of the university describing it as a national treasure. Consisting of musical instruments, scores and personal items, it is valued at ¤500,000, and is a lasting testament to one of the most influential and revered musicians Ireland has produced in any genre.
With his death in 1971, at the shockingly young age of 40, Ireland prematurely lost one of its great innovators.
THREE: THE FRANK AND WALTERS
‘Colours’, ‘Fast Anthony’, ‘Indian Ocean’, ‘How Can I Exist?’, ‘Plenty Times’, ‘After All’: to name the songs is to evoke the magic of Ireland’s happiest popsmiths. They spearheaded the local scene at the beginning of the ‘90s along with The Sultans Of Ping, when – for just a few heady moments – it looked like Cork might just conquer the world. It didn’t quite turn out that way, but the lads did get to appear on Top Of The Pops and had their album Grand Parade described by NME as “The jauntiest of melodic joys.”
They signed to Setanta, moving to London and then New York – and succeeded in putting a smile on the face of the world. With albums of the calibre of Trains, Boats And Planes and the wonderful Grand Parade (called, of course, after the street in Cork) to their credit, they have fulfilled their creative potential, even if the commercial rewards so far have been less than their brilliance deserves. But they are still going strong, with drummer Ashley Keating recalling seeing one of their songs filling a London dancefloor as the highlight of the band’s career... so far. With dancefloors continuing to fill whenever a Franks track pumps out, the dream is still very much alive today.
FOUR: JIMMY McCARTHY
In 10 inspired minutes while waiting for a lift on Cork’s Barrack Street, Jimmy McCarthy wrote himself into the folklore of Irish music. The Cork-born songwriter quickly put together two verses and a chorus of the tune, which would become ‘Ride On’. While he’s admitted in the past that he lives in perpetual fear of drying up creatively, in those 10 minutes, he established himself as a major figure in Ireland’s musical heritage. The song was recorded by Christy Moore in 1984 and it launched Jimmy’s career into a different stratosphere, far beyond his early days of busking on the streets of London and fronting the local Cork outfit, Southpaw.
Shy and quiet in person, his prolific output makes a mockery of any fears he might harbour. McCarthy is meticulous, poetic and has a great grasp of melody. With Mary Black, Tommy Fleming and many others having recorded his work, and The Corrs having provided a brilliant payday through their recording of ‘No Frontiers’, he is recognised now as one of Ireland’s greatest songwriters. And deservedly so, too.
FIVE: JOHN SPILLANE
It’s been a long way from there to here! John Spillane featured with Irish favourites Nomos and The Stargazers before he finally went solo. His 1997 debut Wells Of The World was described by this magazine as "the album of this or any other year". However, it wasn’t until John released Will We Be Brilliant Or What? in 2002, that he finally found himself in the glare of the mainstream. The album sold impressively and he picked up a Meteor Award for it the following year. His latest release, 2005’s Hey Dreamer, consolidated his position as one of Ireland’s most popular solo performers, a man who is down to earth and has a great work ethic.
He’s also been in considerable demand as a writer, having written for Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Karen Casey and the 2003 Oscar nominated animation Give Up Your Auld Sins. He will, however, always remain tied to Cork, where his shows never fail to sell-out and which he – accurately, of course! – calls the centre of the universe.
SIX: FREDDIE WHITE
Freddie White is regarded by many as one of the finest singer-songwriters Ireland has produced. And he came up the hard way, beginning his apprenticeship as a busker on London’s underground, before forming The Fake, who have often been nominated among the most important Irish bands to emerge from the late ‘70s. From there he formed The Freddie White Band, who had their credentials firmly rubber-stamped when they toured Ireland with Eric Clapton in 1978.
A superb vocalist and a perennial student favourite, White was recognised as a great interpreter first, a man who could do brilliant covers of the works of tunesmiths like the great Randy Newman and Guy Clarke. But he developed as a songwriter too, and now, with seven albums to his name, there is a body of work to bear witness to his enduring stature. For the past 10 years he’s lived in America but his iconic status in Ireland has remained undiminished.
SEVEN: THE SULTANS OF PING
They were the ultimate hometown heroes made good. Brash, stylish and loads of fun, The Sultans Of Ping exploded onto the Cork scene, earning a record deal and releasing one of the greatest Irish singles of all time in the magical, unforgettable ‘Where’s Me Jumper’. Their debut album Casual Sex In The Cineplex was a cracker, and for a short time it seemed that they might be destined for superstardom. It didn’t quite work out that way, but they released three albums in all, before fading into the background – not defeated but merely resting, as it turned out.
At the end of last year they returned to the fray, regrouping and touring Ireland to the acclaim of rock fans. Their gigs in Cork, the same city where they had played their last show eight years earlier, were a triumph and they had to add a third show after the first two sold out.
While they didn’t quite become the biggest band in the world, they had a great time trying – and they’ve earned a place in pop music history.
EIGHT: RUBYHORSE
When former Beatle George Harrison agreed to play on ‘Punchdrunk’ on their debut album, Rise, Rubyhorse were entitled to believe that they’d arrived. What followed was the culmination of a dream that began in 1998 when they left Cork for a shot at America.
It all started to pay off when the single ‘Sparkle’ reached number 17 in the American radio charts. This was followed by slots on the David Letterman show and Good Morning America. At home, the song became the theme of AIB’s TV advertising campaign and they beat The Thrills to win the Meteor Hope For 2003 Award.
When the band played Cork’s The Savoy in 2003, on a rare evening of high emotion, it was truly as though conquering superstars had come home. However, the band became victims of a record label shake-up and were dropped. Criminally underrated generally in Ireland, following the independent release of their second album, Goodbye To All That in 2004, the band split up. Fondly remembered by those who heard and were hooked by their beautiful noise, the individual members continue to be musically active. There may be life in the old horse yet...
NINE: SINÉAD LOHAN
It all started for Sinéad Lohan when she was told to write a song, as part of a music course she was attending in Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa. Unsure of herself, she decided, before playing it to the class, to pretend it wasn’t really one of her songs. She needn’t have worried: it received a fantastic reaction. Counting Joan Baez as one of her devoted fans, Sinéad was signed to the Grapevine label and enjoyed Irish platinum success within five months of the release of her 1995 debut album. Titled Who Do You Think I Am?, it also made a significant impact in the UK and across Europe. She was subsequently voted best newcomer in Ireland’s National Entertainment Awards before setting off for New Orleans to record her follow up, 1998’s No Mermaid.
USA Today praised her ‘Celtic tinged earthiness’ and said that Sinéad was “among the ‘90s most imaginative female singer-songwriters.” However, in 2002 she went at least temporarily lukewarm on the music business, deciding she’d rather raise a family. But by then her mark had already been made.
TEN: SIMPLE KID
His 2004 debut album, titled simply 1, became an instant favourite among critics both here and in the UK, and led to his nomination for Best Newcomer in the 2004 Meteor Awards. You could say that it had been a longtime coming. Brother of one-time Sultans Of Ping bassist Alan McFeely, the kid, otherwise known as Ciaran McFeely, had first seemed assured of rock stardom with The Young Offenders. Having secured that elusive major record deal when he was just 17, the band made an early impression, before becoming lost in record industry infighting and procrastination. Almost inevitably, they split up.
He could easily have disappeared without trace there and then – but, made of sterner stuff, McFeely dragged himself back into contention by recording the soon-to-be-modern classic in his bedroom. Able to turn his muse to any style, he often plays live in different genres, on occasion pitching a whole set in country and western mode, while the next night, presenting himself as a dance act. So if you ever hear anyone say you never know where you are with the kid, they’re not joking. Either way, he’s a quirky and hugely original talent, from whom the best may well yet be to come.