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Rory McCarthy and Hugh Dillon - Guinness Cork Jazz Festival 2026

IrelandCork 7 Douglas Street Coughlan’s
26 Oct 2026
Starts in 15 day(s)
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18:00
20:00
Free

Event Description

A set of original compositions and jazz-infused contemporary pieces by Rory McCarthy & Hugh Dillon featuring Davie Ryan - Drums and Mikey O'Connell - Bass

Rory McCarthy is a piano player and keyboardist from Cork. From a young age, he studied piano in Cork School of Music. In 2012 he graduated from UCC with BA hons in Maths-Music and 2022 he completed his MA in music performance in Cork School of Music with a first class honours. Rory has worked consistently since 2012 as a session player for a number of well established Irish musicians including Brian Deady, John Blek, Marc O Reilly and Niall McCabe. He currently works as MD with Pa Sheehy and is also a member of trad fusion group Notify and the Shaker hymn. He has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe and has also just released his debut solo piano EP.

Hugh Dillon is a guitarist and composer from Cork, Ireland. He has spent the last 15 years performing and recording with some of the country's most exciting bands and singer-songwriters. Some of his recording credits include chart-topping album "Red To Blue" by Mick Flannery, top 5 album "Dreamcatcher" by Jack O'Rourke and Choice Prize nominated "Placemats And Second Cuts" by Marlene Enright.

Hugh's performances include a vast number of live venue, TV and radio appearances. He has appeared on Ireland's national broadcaster RTE with "The Voice Of Ireland" winner Pat Byrne, Mick Flannery, and The Niall McCabe Band. He has performed headline shows at Dublin's Olympia Theatre, Vicar St., Cork Live At The Marquee and the Cork Opera House, as well as numerous other esteemed venues both here and abroad.

His original compositions are guitar-driven instrumental songs, which draw on his years of experience to form a rich blend of melody, harmony and technical proficiency.

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Location of event

Venue Information - Coughlan’s

This small intimate venue is be available to musicians to put on concerts/gigs in an effort to promote both new and already established acts from the city and further a field. As many of Cork's smaller venues have unfortunately had to close their doors, we want to recreate a 'listening room' and perhaps (darewe say it!) even bring back some of the magic from the days of places like 'The Lobby'! We want this space to be a platform for upcoming acts to showcase their material without the huge costs of hiring a venue and also a place for more established acts to come and play in a small setting, to an appreciative audience, knowing their requirements will be met to the best of our ability. It is essential to us that every performer and audience member leaves 'Coughlan's Live' wanting to come back for more.