Cork City Libraries, in association with Creative Ireland, launched a campaign in November to find Cork’s Favourite Song.
The objective was to seek out, acknowledge and applaud the singers and musicians that make Cork the vibrant city of music that it is today, and unearth songs that have stood the test of time in the heads and hearts of Corkonians.
The public were invited to nominate their favourite song/ballad about Cork, or by singers, songwriters/bands from the city or based here. And the people of Cork responded!
Nominations were accepted online and through local libraries across Cork. The response amazed the organising committee who filtered through hundreds of entries to reveal 84 individual songs for consideration. It proved a hard task for the independent judging panel but after lengthy deliberations, they announced the shortlist of 10 finalists:
After All/The Frank and Walters; The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee/Billa O’Connell; Beautiful City/Billa O’Connell; The Boys of Fairhill/Jimmy Crowley; Going to My Hometown/Rory Gallagher; The Langer Song/Natural Gas; Princes Street/John Spillane; An Puc ar Buile/Seán Ó Sé; Safety Rope/Mick Flannery; Where’s me Jumper/The Sultans of Ping
Patricia Looney, Senior Executive Librarian comments, “There were some front runners from the start with multiple nominations, for example John Spillane had 10 different songs nominated, Jimmy Crowley had 7, Rory Gallagher 6 and 5 by Mick Flannery.”
She adds, “The shortlist illustrates the cross-generational appeal of the campaign and showcases the wealth, depth and variety of the city’s musical culture.”
Which one will be named Cork’s Favourite Song? You decide!
Voting is now open at www.corkcitylibraries.ie and in libraries across the city.
Closing date for voting is Friday 25 January. Cork’s Favourite Song will be announced at an exclusive performance of the 10 songs in The City Library on Monday, January 27 at 7.30 pm with MC Trevor Welch, 96FM and surprise guest stars. Get voting!
