Myles O’Reilly was present at the 2021 Quiet Lights Festival in Cork city and captured performances from irish artists Lisa O’Neill, Joshua Burnside & Laura Quirke, Niamh Regan, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Kate Ellis & Caimin Gilmore, Junior Brother, and Rachael Lavelle in iconic Cork city locations.
The film is now available online to watch with a 27 minute running time.
The film, shot, and directed, by O’Reilly, captures intimate, one-song performances by the artists set against the backdrop of cherished Cork landmarks: the Shandon Bells, Crawford Art Gallery, Coughlan’s bar, The Everyman Theatre, the historic Triskel Christchurch, and the picturesque banks of the Lee under the Shaky Bridge.
Speaking about filming A City Under Quiet Lights, Myles says: “There was a noticeable sense of joy in the city. It was the first winter out of Pandemic restrictions, and the air was thick with a palpable celebratory feeling. A renewed vigour, bustle, and excitement. A sparkle like no other year. Cork was a city rejoicing in a return to glorious normality. Buskers on every corner, families out walking and shopping together, taking selfies beside the giant Santa, stopping for a spiced beef sambo or cheese & onion potato pie, everywhere Corkonians were making the most of their freedom. Getting on famously with enjoying themselves. The music and songs I filmed helped capture that feeling in a bottle.”
A City Under Quiet Lights premiered at The Everyman for 2022’s Cork International Film Festival and screened again as part of a one-on-one installation during last month’s Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival.
Quiet Lights announced a break for November 2023, and instead teamed up with Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival last month to present a number of concerts. Quiet Lights festival will return in 2024.
