When West Cork took over Belfast!
Last weekend we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming a group of 30-strong creatives, cooks and cute hoors from Ballydehob, West Cork to round off our Shared Island project “The Ties That Bind.” This was the return journey to our Twelfth Night trip to Levis Cornerhouse that went down a storm last July (check the photo below - you can read more about that leg here).
As well as a family run pub and unique venue, Levis’ is at the heart of the community in Ballydehob, a place where locals and visitors flock because of their deep passion for what they do - which is above all else bringing people together, whether at a gig, dinner, festival or farmers market!
We set the bar high with our summer Levis’ Takeover but when the Cork crew started unloading their van with the finest of West Cork produce, props and puppetry - we knew our Duncairn community were in for a treat.
On Friday night Sing for your Supper filled the rafters with sweet smells and sweeter songs! Michelin Star chef & proprietor of Ballydehob’s Chesnut Restaurant, Rob Krawczyk, dished up an incredible seasonal feast with right hand men Doxy and Danny. Dinner guests were invited to sing a song with a chance to earn their supper for free! There was laughter, tears, great performers and some not-so-great; but let us tell you, a mighty night’s craic was had!
On Saturday morning, the gang were treated to a short bus tour of Belfast before Caroline & Joe of Levis’ joined members of Cork band Leevy and our own Ray Giffen in the studios of BBC Radio Ulster for a spot of music and chat on the John Toal Show (Listen back here ), explaining about the project and what is in store for the weekendl
The infamous Levis’ Secret Song is a night of short sets by emerging and well known artists - all of whom go unannounced until the moment they start to play. The ethos of the event is that the audience take a chance on a mystery line up where there’s no support act/main act hierarchy. The only hierarchy in the Duncairn on Saturday Night was the upper and lower stages that came as a small surprise to the audience! It was a magic night of music and poetry with incredible artists - Les Salamandas, Molly O Mahony, Leevy, Clare Sands, Joshua Burnside trio, Cormac Lally, First Class & Coach, Aoibh Johnson and members of the Duncairn’s Trad Collective.
Another common ground between Levis’ and the Duncairn is their desire to share music and art through free events for all the family. Like our Super Sundays, every year at Secret Song Levis’ organise their “Junior Secret Song” - where all the artists (some with sore heads) sing and play for young and old on the Sunday morning. Our Junior Secret song on Sunday morning saw special moments shared by kids and babies who were free to run around and interact with the musicians - sometimes even contributing a laugh, wail or a cry to a set!
Thanks to visiting Cork artist Sonia Caldwell of Kilcoe Studios, the local community had spent the week in the run-up creating traditional straw masks. These were donned as music and madness ensued as a traditional ‘Wren Boy’ procession broke out of the building and into the street, as it does every Boxing Day in Ballydehob.
Watch this space for more West Cork x Belfast creativity and community building into 2025 - we can’t wait to continue on this uplifting, unique and inspiring journey with our firm friends from the Rebel county.
This was all possible thanks to the support of Cork County Council, Belfast City Council and Creative Ireland through the Creative Communities on a Shared Island Scheme.
