New short film celebrates the music and legacy of Cork’s Eoin French (Talos)
Raised in Kilcully, Eoin French passed away at Marymount Hospice in August 2024 at the age of just 36. Picture: Julie Rowland
A new short film has been released to mark the second anniversary of the passing of Cork musician Eoin French (Talos).
looks back at the 2023 Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival residency and the making of , a collaboration between French, Ólafur Arnalds, Niamh Regan and Ye Vagabonds.
Presented by Sounds from a Safe Harbour (SFSH), the film includes footage by Peadar O'Goill, Steve O’Connor, Sean Phair and Adrian O’Connell, and is edited by Louise Gaffney.
Reflecting on the residency and the making of the song , festival director Mary Hickson said: “At the time, we didn’t know how precious that week would become, or how little time we would have with Eoin.
“The song was written about the experience of creating together - about being present in that moment, in that room, with those people. But since Eoin’s passing, the words have taken on a new depth of meaning.
“It’s a reminder of the extraordinary comfort music can bring us and of the lasting connection created through moments of shared creativity.”
During his musical career, Talos released three albums: (2017), (2019) and (2022).
He played venues from Connolly’s of Leap in West Cork to headlining Cork Opera House during the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in 2018. He also performed at venues such as the Olympia in Dublin and was a mainstay at festivals at home and abroad.
His final show as Talos was at Waterford’s All Together Now in 2023.
Raised in Kilcully, French passed away at Marymount Hospice in August 2024 at the age of just 36.
Dermot Kennedy dedicated to French during a show in Nashville, saying in a clip posted on Instagram: “Whatever we do here, whatever music happens, his music is so, so beautiful and he was such a beautiful person and so this is all in honour of him.”
The Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds, who French admired and collaborated with, said: “Eoin did more for me than I can put words to.
"It was an absolute privilege to witness him at the peak of his creativity and I will always be grateful for every single minute of knowing him. He showed us how to live and also how to die.”
Meanwhile, SFSH’s first-ever vinyl release, SFSH25 MIXTAPE, arrives on September 25 and captures highlights from the sold-out orchestral performance at SFSH25.
The release features Jon Hopkins, The Staves, Amanda Bergman, Sam Amidon, Sean Carey, Leif Vollebekk and Angie McMahon, performing with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra and SFSH Choir.
- Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival returns to Cork in 2027 from September 30 to October 3.
