Independence way
Cork´s Independence Way
Writer: Stuart Clark
The rebels, rockers and comedians of Cork don´t think it plays second fiddle to the capital. We´re inclined to agree
Rebel county
King Henry VII didn´t mean it as a compliment in 1499 when he branded Cork “the Rebel County´” but the locals took it as one and have defiantly been doing things their own way ever since.
English monarchs no longer being much of an issue, this fierce independent streak is now channelled into getting the better of the city´s arch rival, Dublin.
They´ve certainly held the bragging rights for the past couple of years. Cork city was declared the 2005 European Capital of Culture. Bob Dylan, Kanye West and Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters bypassed the capital to headline this summer´s Live At The Marquee festival in Cork Docklands. Local teams have recently bagged three major sporting trophies. Add Ken Loach´s Cork-based The Wind that Shakes the Barley winning the Palme d´Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, and no wonder there´s a buzz about the place.
Hotbed of resistance
The star of Loach´s Irish War of Independence drama is a local lad, too. Cillian Murphy, who also appeared in Red Eye and Cold Mountain, trod the boards with the city´s Corcadorca theatre company before heading for Hollywood. He says of his latest project: “It´s about a time when Cork was a hotbed of resistance, and a load of young men – farm labourers, university students and shop hands – drove the English out. The stories and history are still very much alive down here, which helped make this one of the most satisfying times I´ve ever had on a film set – the Cork people are amazing.”
And he should know. Before becoming an actor, Murphy was in a band called Sons Of Mr Greengenes who played the same club venues as 90s “Corkchester” legends The Frank and Walters, and Sultans of Ping FC.
An Irish version of what the Stone Roses and their mates in Manchester were doing at the time, Corkchester quickly petered out but was replaced by an even healthier scene.
Fred, Lotus Lullaby, Revolution Of The Sun, El Bastardo, Stanley Super 800, Simple Kid and Exit: Pursued By A Bear headline as guitar stars in the making. The lads most likely to, though, are Rulers of the Planet whose In 30 Minutes We Destroy The Earth album is a Nirvanaesque delight.
Rocking music scene
“Cork´s brilliant at the moment for music,” says Rulers singer Barry McGough. “Most punk and metal bands play Fred Zeppelin´s, which is packed with only 50 people in it, and Cyprus Avenue and An Cru
