Music project to hum in Cork at first festival

A pioneering music out-reach project is expanding into a free family festival on the banks of the River Lee.

The team behind the successful Music In Community (MiC) initiative in Cork announced details last night of their first MiC Festival, which will take place in Ballincollig’s Regional Park on the afternoon of August 30 as part of Heritage Week.

As well as bringing music into the community, it is hoped the event will showcase the town’s Gunpowder Mills, one of Ireland’s largest industrial heritage sites.

MiC is a not-for-profit initiative established by former Jodavino musician Joe Carey, who now owns The White Horse pub and restaurant in Ballincollig, musician Joe Philpott from Cork band Ruby Horse, and Adrian O’Mahony, chairman of The Cork Concert Orchestra.

After a small, but successful, pilot project which saw music performed in a sheltered housing project for the elderly, in a medical facility and local schools, they are expanding it to include the festival, which will be headlined by Jerry Fish, just days before he appears at Electric Picnic.

“The goal of Music In Community is to bring music to those in the community who cannot normally access high-quality music for various reasons, and we are delighted with the calibre of acts appearing in the festival,” Mr Carey said.

The festival will feature The Karl Nesbitt Trad Group, the Carrigtwohill Gospel Choir, Brandy Lane Orchestra, and the White Horse Guitar Club, playing a mix of Irish and Americana music highlighting Ballincollig’s links to the American Civil War through Ovens-born Major General Patrick Cleburne, the war’s highest ranked Irishman.

The festival will run from 1pm to 6pm and is supported by the Ballincollig Heritage Association and the local business association.