MUSIC Westport Festival kick started by Ballinrobe Band

OPENING ACT?Ballinrobe’s Quality Street, from left: Gerry Heneghan (drums), Mike Ansbro (vocals, bass), Martin Farragher (vocals, lead guitar), and Ailíse Burke (vocals, keyboard). Picture courtesy of Martin Flannery.

Big break for Ballinrobe Band


Ciara Galvin

Ballinrobe band Quality Street opened the Westport Festival of Music and Food, and it’s fair to say, they’re still on a high. The quartet, made up of local musicians Ailíse Burke, Mike Ansbro, Martin Farragher and Gerry Heneghan, took to the main stage on the Saturday of the festival as the first act of the weekend.
The band, who are not yet a year, together played a signature set of eclectic songs, including some crowd-pleasing covers and catchy new material, such as their new song ‘Where to Go’. Speaking to The Mayo News after their set, the band expressed their glee at the opportunity. Singer and guitarist Martin Farragher said ‘it still hasn’t sunk in’.
“We had put the possibility of playing at the festival in the back of our minds, and we focused on other gigs, but when we got the call to say we would be playing – it was just unbelievable,” said the UL student.
“We were nervous enough heading down to Westport, but once we set up and got into the first song, we started to enjoy it. It was great to have such a home support down there, and to see all the people that helped to get us there,” explained Farragher.
The band were originally formed for what was meant to be a one-off appearance at the Ballinrobe Festival last year. Now, they are hobnobbing with artists like Christy Moore, The Waterboys and The Stunning. Describing Christy Moore as ‘a gentleman’, Farragher was  explained that the Irish folk singer remembers the band’s home town. “He said he remembers playing in Ballinrobe in 1979, and said he particularly remembers it because there were coffins in his changing room,” he explained.
Vocalist and pianist Ailíse Burke described the experience as ‘surreal’ and said they were delighted with how it went considering they played some very new material. The psychology graduate said Quality Street are now focused on getting their new song out there.
“We recorded or new song last week, and we want to get it released as soon as possible, as it’s a real summer song with a good vibe,” she explained.
Footage for the video for their new song was shot at the festival. “It was just such a great weekend and with the feel good vibe of ‘Where to Go’ we thought what better than to use footage from the festival. It was brilliant that we got to play and that we had friends and family down there to cheer us on,” said Burke.