Levis Cornerhouse hosts a Gathering For Gaza organised by West Cork for Palestine Group.

The Gathering for Gaza on 15 September 2024 in Levis Corner House is raising money for the

Palestine Children Relief Fund (www.pcrf.net) aka PCRF.

PCRF provides food aid, medical aid, clean water, helping to build a second field hospital in

central Gaza, and it evacuates children in need of urgent medical treatment.

Live Performance Line Up includes Cormac Lally, Shahd Karaeen, Admed Abbassy Polly Barrett, Mamacha, Katrina O Kane..

followed by a Raffle & Dancing.

SUNDAY 15^th SEPTEMBER

DOORS 6.30pm

TICKETS €15

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ARTIST BIOS :

The Palestinian poet Shahd Karaeen will open the concert. Born and raised in East Jerusalem, she

uses poetry as a powerful medium to speak out against oppression and injustice, amplifying the

voices of the Palestinian people. Winner of a “High Street Hero” award in Wandsworth (London), she

contributes to many events supporting Gaza. Her poetry book, “White Shoes” also serves this

purpose. Shahd was writer-in-residence with Swerve Magazine (Skibbereen) in May and will be

accompanied on the night by the Pied Wagtail Collective (Paul McMahon, Marie-Laure Haas, Dave

W, Moze Jacobs).

Skibbereen resident Ahmed Abbasy is from a village near the city of Alexandria (Egypt). He used to

sing at weddings and cafés with his friends. With his expressive voice he creates melodic raps using

spellbinding backing tracks, where dreams and reality merge. His rap dedicated to Gaza is full of

emotion:  “;Oh Palestine, I am sorry, look how many people grieved for you “

Katrina O’ Kane grew up in Belfast. Having played for over 10 years on the underground electronic

music scene, she moved to West Cork and discovered it was full of incredible talent and creativity.

She is hosting a concert series called ‘KIN’ in Arundels by the Pier (Ahakista) to showcase this talent.

She also organised the West Cork Gathering for Gaza in the Maritime Hotel (Bantry) in January.

Having founded a funk band and a folk trio, she will present solo in Levis’ and mostly sing her own

songs using a guitar and looper pedal.

Polly Barrett’s multi-instrumentalism with looping and layering of vocals creates an evocative and

truly unique sound around themes of nature, spirituality, and relationships. Her voice is light as a

breeze with deep velvet undertones. A clearing in the forest as the sun dazzlingly breaks through the

leaves.

The excellent musicians of Mamacha (from the Bolivian word for woman) see it as their mission to

“celebrate the creative and healing force of feminine energy through positive music” The band has

expanded in the past years. From three to five musicians, literally from all over the world (Ireland,

UK, Mexico, Hungary). Kate Liddell (five-stringed fiddle, flugelhorn, vocals), Mira Geluk (vocals,

guitar, ngoni, percussion), Armando Ramírez (charango, percussion, bass), Lea Miklody (cello, loop

pedal) and David Kelly (bodhran, drums) produce sounds that sing and lift the heart in many

different hues and layers. Indeed, like a forest of sound. Music as it has been played from time

immemorial; danceable, exciting, never quite the same twice.

MC Cormac Lally is one of Ireland’s top spoken word artists. A fine poet in his own right, he has been

featured on national radio and television and at many renowned festivals. He knows exactly what is

required for every occasion and has helped many brides, grooms, and best men give the best speech

of their lives in his capacity as a legendary purveyor of bespoke wedding speeches. The audience is

in good hands.

There will also be a raffle with great Ballydehob prizes. And it's all for the children of Gaza.