“Folk gigs in coffee shops, or coffee houses as they were called, were a cool part of the music scene in the States in the 60s and 70s, so I’m looking on this as an extension of those iconic times.”
That is how acclaimed singer-songwriter Fiona Kennedy is approaching her upcoming Mallow Arts Festival performance, as she prepares to bring her debut festival gig to Insomnia Café this Wednesday.
Joined by guitarist Mike Galvin, Fiona is looking forward to a unique afternoon of music, storytelling and coffee as she presents An Irish Woman’s Songbook, a celebration of the voices, stories and songs of Irish women.
“Myself and guitarist Mike Galvin, who’ll be accompanying me, are looking forward to sipping on gorgeous coffees during my debut gig for the Mallow Arts Festival. We’ve got a lovely and very varied set lined up for this,” she said.
The performance promises to take audiences on a journey through Ireland’s rich musical heritage, combining powerful vocals, history and storytelling in a warm and engaging setting.
Reflecting on the coffee house tradition that inspired her, Fiona joked that the only challenge ahead may be finding suitable parking spaces for their sound equipment.
“The only slight worry is parking as we need to bring in our sound equipment, so fingers crossed we’ll find two handy parking spots outside Insomnia.”
The Mallow Arts Festival event takes place on:
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026
3:00pm
Insomnia Café, Mallow
Free admission
