Jenny McNamara

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Having spent the last 20 years living and performing in San Francisco and New Orleans, Jenny Mac returned to her native Clonakilty in 2023 and is a prominent part of the local music scene.

An impressive, versatile and extremely talented vocalist, Jenny honed her craft under the watchful eyes of Mossie Shanley, Noel Redding & Carole Appleby performing regularly in Shanleys and De Barras for 15 years before moving stateside. Jenny has guested with artists such as Hot House Flowers, Christy Dignam, Don Baker and Donovan and her repertoire is a nostalgic collection of jazz n’ blues, country rock and 60s and 70s classics.

Blonde

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Blonde are a four piece band form West Cork. Formed in 2023, they’re a fresh voice that is also a bit familiar. Sure to bring plenty of loud songs with nice melodies.

The band consists of Ferdia Gibbons (Guitar and Vocals), Cathal O’ Regan (Bass and Vocals), Aaron Crowley (Drums) and Harold Paulino (Guitar)

 

 

The Céilí Allstars

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The Céilí Allstars are an exciting traditional Irish music group from Cork.
They formed from a group of friends playing the session trail in Cork city in the late nineties. Their musical style includes shades of Sliabh Luachra – where they originate from – combined with generous sprinklings of folk & country.

They’ve played residencies in some of Cork’s legendary folk venues and have also performed at festivals around the globe

 

The Ceilí Allstars are: Michael O’ Sullivan – Banjo, Flor Rahilly – Guitar and Vocals, Stan O’ Sullivan – Fiddle and Lisa O’ Sullivan – Fiddle.










John Spillane

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John Spillane is a long-time friend of CIGF, playing at almost every edition bar two, as well as spearheading our attempts to break the World Record for the largest ensemble guitar performance in 2009 where 981 guitarists played ‘Óró sé do bheatha abhaile in unison. “It was like a scene from a Disney movie,” — John Spillane

 

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivate audiences around the world.

After his acclaimed release of 100 Snow White Horses in 2021, in October 2022, John will released ‘In Another Light’ a career spanning album recorded live at the Right Here Right Now Festival recorded at Cork Opera House in November 2021.













 

Andrew Whelton

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After beginning guitar 6 years ago it wasn’t until lockdown that Andrew really began to drive forward with the instrument learning new songs and playing styles over this period of time. This, combined with growing live performance experience gigging in Limerick, DeBarras and trad sessions in Ardfield under the watchful eyes of Jim Murray & CIGF co- organiser Kevin McNally has him ear marked as one to watch for the future.
Andrew’s delicate finger picking and interpretation of modern pop through the lens of classic folk is a welcome addition to the burgeoning West Cork Musical scene …

Ursidae

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Ursidae are a West-Coast musical collective centered on lead singer and guitarist Dónal Tuipéar. The band features a revolving lineup of musicians from the four corners of the country who help bring Dónal’s fighter pilot approach to songwriting to life. Driven by infectious-ramshackle energy, Ursidae are the self-proclaimed West-Coast Stewards of charming indie-folk-rock.

Stop Look Listen @Bennett’s Field Grandstand

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STOP LOOK LISTEN
As part of the ongoing ‘Rekindling the Light Within’ project across West Cork, composer Justin Grounds curates a weekly outdoor listening party to encourage people to take a break in one of Clonakilty’s beautiful outside spaces and listen to some of the most beautiful music known to man. To find out locations and times follow @stoplooklistenclon on Instagram.
Justin is presenting a special guitar-themed session for the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival.

REVERB

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‘We want the impact of our festival to continue to reverberate throughout Clonakilty celebrating the diversity that makes this town so vibrant. We ALL are guitar town’

‘Reverb’ incorporates the educational and community outreach programme that runs parallel with the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival. It ensures that the effects of the festival are experienced by as diverse a selection of our community as possible. You may not hear Reverb, but you’ll definitely feel its effects! The main festival caters to a general audience and takes place in a range of venues across the town. However, there are members of the community who are unable to access these events, for a variety of reasons. The ‘Reverb’ programme brings artists and facilitators directly in contact with these groups so they don’t have to miss out.

We aim to facilitate meaningful artistic participation for a diverse group of people with the ultimate aim of empowering members of the community who are sometimes marginalised. Each year we team up with the Irish Wheelchair Association, CoAction, Cope Foundation, The Family Resource Centre, the ETB, and many other local groups,

As is now traditional, we are kicking things off with a performance by Eugene Brosnan & Friends in the The Michael Collins Mural Park Weds at 2pm

 

REVERB TIMETABLE 2026

Reverb Online Programme 2026 A4 V01

David O’Sullivan

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David’s journey into music began with hearing Ed Shearan’s first album however he has only began to perform publicly in the middle of the pandemic in September 2021.

Since then he has plied his trade busking and at a select few private functions where he caught the eyes of the organisers of the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival who then immediately booked him to perform from the Duff Box for 2021’s festival. This performance was captured by photographer Ciaran Foley and featured in the Irish online music blog Golden Plec.

 

Q.U.I.E.T

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Clonakilty native, Anthony Noonan has over the years  recorded, performed and toured with a variety of artists such as UK folk legend Roy Harper, Bill Shanley, The West Cork Ukulele Orchestra, Interference & Glen Hansard and Dog Tail Soup.

A feature of many Cork artists’ rhythm section, Anthony has previously been seen drumming for the likes of Ian Whitty & the Exchange, Fred, Mick Flannery, Lerner, FirBeag & Gavin Moore to name a few.

Releasing a first album of his own music in 2003, the follow-up second album in 2008, ‘Honeycomb Moons’, garnered some favourable national Airplay and attention in the press. TV features on The Last Broadcast with Dave Fanning, and The View with John Kelly, coupled with live appearances at Electric Picnic solidified this album as one of the best in 2008 with it featuring in Paul McLoone’s top 100 releases of the year.

The following period saw Anthony focus more on his drumming career. With appearances on Other Voices, to supporting Glen Hansard in Radio City Music Hall New York as drummer for Irish legends Interference, Anthony left song writing behind, until remerging  under the moniker Q.U.I.E.T.

Q.U.I.E.T.’s debut album Somnambulist was released in 2023