'You're never too old to rap': Meet the Cork grannies spitting bars in Knocknaheeney
"You're never too old to rap".
That's the mantra — and one of the first recordings — of a talented grandmother taking Cork’s local hip hop scene by storm with her age-defying performances.
Sally Crowley is paving the way for an older generation of rappers at the Kabin Studio in Knocknaheeney.
The studio shot to fame more than a year ago following a viral hit from its young musical collective the Kabin Crew. 'The Spark', which was performed in collaboration with the Lisdoonvarna Crew amassed over two billion views across social media platforms in 2024 and was longlisted for a Grammy award.
Noting the positive impact of rapping in his community, founder of the Kabin Garry McCarthy from GMCbeats was keen to expand the project to cater for older aspiring musicians and has teamed up with Cork City Council’s Musical Neighbourhoods and Creative Ireland.
Sally is among Garry’s most promising students and has penned a total of seven raps which she hopes can one day be released as part of an album.
Sally, aged 60, has suffered her fair share of heartbreak. However, she never believed that rapping would serve as a much-needed outlet for her pain.
It comes 21 years after her then teenage daughter Jessica developed a rare form of Parkinson's, leaving her unable to walk or communicate. Now aged 38, Jessica lives in a care facility and takes comfort from listening to her mother’s demos which include raps such as 'You’re never too old to rap' and 'You’re grounded'.
“Sometimes I wonder if she still recognises me,” Sally told the . “Then I watch her listening to the raps and I see the glint back in her eyes. For that alone, it’s worth it. She has always loved music.”
The mother of two is keen to stay strong for her family including her other daughter, Ellen, aged 39, and grandchildren Patrick, Martin, and Chaniece.
“People take so much for granted but even being able to turn over in your bed and scratch your own nose, I appreciate those things every day.”
It was initially Sally’s grandson Martin who inspired her rapping career.
“Martin was at an Easter camp with the Kabin where they were doing a showcase. Garry invited me to come see it with Ellen. He said he wanted Martin to come back and told me about an adult class they were running. I came back with a disc track and started attending the adult’s group. I come from a musical family. My dad was in the Barrack Street band and my brothers were always musical.
"I grew up with music but never performed. I never believed that rapping would be my path in life. I have written seven songs in the last two years, I am after making four demos and writing another one for Christmas. Everything I write I put a positive spin on.
The experience has been extremely therapeutic for Sally who has performed at numerous gigs including the Blackpool Block party in Cork which took place last month.
“The Kabin gives me an escape. It helped me get out a lot of the feelings that I had buried deep inside of me. After what happened to my daughter Jessica I often felt guilty if I ever laughed or had moments of happiness or enjoyment. I suffered from anxiety a lot and Garry really helped me to express all that through music.”
At 80 years old, Maureen Cullinane from Ballincollig is one of the Kabin’s oldest rappers. She learned about Garry’s work through Hollyhill Library where she had been attending ukelele lessons. She is best known locally for raps such as 'An Doras' and 'Sailing Away'.
“I could never picture myself rapping,” Maureen said. “I was watching how they did it in the Kabin and I wanted to know what this magic was. I had no problem speaking in public but rapping was a different story.
"I could never have pictured myself rapping before. At 80 years old I thought I had achieved everything in life that was possible, Then I met Garry. He teaches people how to express their own humanity through rapping in a very subtle way.
"He braided all the parts of my personality together so that I was strong enough to rap. I’ve developed so much as a person because of Garry. A few years ago I would never have rapped or even have done an interview like this.
"I’m not defensive anymore. I speak my real truth. Truth and respect are the main elements of the Kabin. Best of all I have developed a career.”
