The 45^th Cork Folk Festival presents a memorable and unique concert: an inspired pairing of twice Grammy nominated vocalist Iarla Ó Lionáird with renowned pianist/composer Cormac McCarthy and acclaimed clarinet maestro Matthew Berrill. An exciting, moving and dramatic new ensemble coming together to explore Iarla’s rich and varied repertoire through their compelling transcendent interpretations. The concert will begin with a performance from singer Rosie McCarthy from Macroom.

Iarla Ó Lionáird has carved a long and unique career in music both internationally and in Ireland. From his iconic early recording of the vision song ‘Aisling Gheal’ as a young boy to his ground breaking recordings with Dublin’s Crash Ensemble and New York’s Alarm Will Sound, he has shown a breadth of artistic ambition that sets him apart in the Irish Music fraternity.

A twice Grammy nominated artist, Ó Lionáird has worked with a stellar cast of composers internationally including Donnacha Dennehy, Dan Trueman, Kate Moore, Nico Muhly, Linda Buckley, Gavin Bryars and David Lang, and he has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Peter Gabriel, Nick Cave, Robert Plant and Sinead O’Connor. His unique singing style has carried him to stages and concert halls all over the world, from New York’s Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House and beyond. He has performed as soloist with concert and symphony orchestras including the Ulster Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Centre, USA, the Irish National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Also an accomplished broadcaster, O’ Lionaird’s recent Radio Series Vocal Chords on the mysteries of the human voice, for Ireland’s National Classical Music Broadcaster, RTÉ Lyric FM, won both Gold and Silver Awards at the New York Radio Festival 2016/2018.

His own voice has graced the silver screen also, with film credits extending from The Gangs of New York to Hotel Rwanda and most recently as featured singer in the film Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan. He is the vocalist with the critically acclaimed Irish/American band The Gloaming.

“Magnificently expressive” The New York Times

“One of the most dramatic voices in contemporary music” The Guardian

“Ó Lionáird’s real triumph is his voice: as soft as a feather bed and as searingly sharp as a blade when the mood calls” The Irish Times

“His voice will astound you. It soars – and it’s as profound, simple and beautiful as wild horses… Genius is the operative word here.” Time Out New York

Cormac McCarthy is a pianist, composer, arranger and conductor from Cork, Ireland. Noted for a diverse stylistic palette, and equally at home in a variety of genres, his music is said to “defy categorisation” (RTÉ Lyric FM). In 2010, having completed his Masters degree in composition at the MTU Cork School of Music, Cormac received the prestigious Bill Whelan International Music Bursary, an award earmarked for young Irish composers studying abroad. He spent a number of years living in Chicago, where he completed a Masters in Jazz Studies at DePaul University.

His compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by artists including Phil Woods, Jeff Hamilton, Mick Flannery, Martin Hayes, Andrea Corr, Gavin James, Niamh Regan, Jack O’Rourke, The DePaul Jazz Ensemble, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Crash Ensemble, The New Irish Jazz Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra. He has performed extensively at concert venues, clubs and festivals throughout Europe and the US, sharing the stage/recording studio with artists across a wide musical spectrum, including Peter Washington, Nell Ní Chróinín, Billy Drummond, Liz Carroll, Donal Lunny, the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra & the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Matthew Berrill is a sought after musician and is a member of many ensembles in the jazz, improvised and traditional Irish worlds, including Ensemble Ériu and the Irish Memory Orchestra.

He teaches in numerous music education projects throughout Galway County, was conductor of the University of Galway Concert Orchestra and is a founder, teacher and ensemble director in the Headford Music Works teaching and performing scheme.

In July 2022, Matthew graduated with distinction following a two year Masters in Jazz Performance and Composition at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, London, which was made possible by a scholarship offered by the Academy.