Podcast Corner: New series gathers memories of classic gigs in Ireland

I Was There has people talking about such gigs as Nirvana in Cork and Bob Marley at Dalymount Park 

Nirvana, pictured here on MTV Unplugged in 1993, played in Cork in 1991. Picture: Getty Images

I Was There is a new three-part podcast documentary series that takes listeners behind the scenes of some of the most iconic gigs that have taken place in Ireland. Through interviews with fans, musicians, promoters, and insiders, I Was There reconstructs the untold stories of legendary shows that changed the cultural landscape forever.

On the second episode, focused on Nirvana’s show supporting Sonic Youth at Sir Henry’s in Cork days before the release of  Smells Like Teen Spirit, host Dylan Murphy offers a warning: “It’s worth saying, there’s not there’s not many people who can corroborate this part of the performance. That’s not to say that it didn’t happen, but it’s a reminder that apart from a few photos and audio recordings from the sound desk, all that’s left are people’s memories. If someone was to ask me about a support band from a gig I was at 10 years ago, let alone 30, I’d find it hard to remember. And people weren’t watching with the intent of retelling it for a podcast in 2025.”

 It follows a memory of the gig from John Hegarty, who was down the front of the gig. He says Kurt Cobain walked off stage and people thought that was the end of the show - but Cobain continued to play backstage.

 Someone opened the door for Hegarty to witness what was happening: “There’s Sonic Youth, some of the lads from the management, and the two lads from Nirvana, and they’re all standing in a circle in this empty nightclub called Chandra’s and Kurt Cobain is just on his knees and he’s still playing, just lashing the guitar, blood spitting out of his fingers, and everyone just standing looking at him. And for me it was just, you could see this person was going to go on a journey.” 

Shane Fitzsimons, back then a journalist with the Evening Echo and attendee at the gig, says: “I’ve often made up bits because like the whole Liberty Valance thing - what’s more important, the reality or the legend ? - sometimes when people are asking the question, you can see in their eyes they want to hear the legend. They don’t want to hear the truth at all. So you tell them the legend.” 

That Nirvana show is sandwiched between episodes focused on Bob Marley’s 1980 gig at Dalymount Park - his last ever outdoor performance - and the Cranberries at Cruise’s Hotel in Limerick in July 1990, which will be released next week.

 It does make you wonder why we have to go so far back for ‘iconic’ live shows - hopefully more episodes of I Was There will follow - but the podcast makers say it’s a reminder of the ever-growing disappearance of the spaces that made these moments possible, and the urgent need to cherish and protect the venues that remain.