Tom Dunne: Playing in Connolly's of Leap really is a life-affirming experience

I returned to the Co Cork venue recently for the first time in many years, and was delighted to see the magic is still intact

Connolly's of Leap in Co Cork is one of Ireland's great small venues.

Wed, 08 Apr, 2026 - 21:30

Tom Dunne

Tom Dunne is a music-lover extraordinaire who, as well as presenting radio and TV shows, can also be seen in the wild as the lead singer with Something Happens.

I played Connolly’s of Leap in Co Cork a few weeks back. It was my first time on its hallowed stage in about, ahem, 35 years. A lot of water under many bridges. A lot of change. But one thing unchanged: Connolly’s is still magic. Playing it is life-affirming. How can that even be?

It reminded me of an interview that I did in the years since I last played there. It was with an American singer song writer called Jewel. She was a bit of a cause celebre at the time as she had graduated from sleeping in her car to huge international success.