IMBOLC was the ancient Celtic festival in honour of the pagan goddess Brigid, who was evoked in fertility rites and oversaw poetry, crafts and prophecy and a very special celebration of contemporary Irish female artists featuring Erica Cody, Emma Langford, Síomha, Ciara Meade, Dea Matrona, Wyvern Lingo and Lisa Lambe is on the RTE player now. After multiple reschedules and having evolved with the levels from socially distanced live shows to a full broadcast recording, IMBOLC performances were filmed on the shores of Lough Derg at Birdhill and GarryKennedy in early February this year and was part-funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht Sport and Media from the Live Performance Support Scheme.Over 64 artists and crew worked on the show to present an all-female line up hosted by Maykay in honour of the original female goddess generating 141 days of work.IMBOLC is a celebration of the pagan period of a rebirth following the dark which began on the 1st February, St. Brigid's Day. Speaking about this special event artist Erica Cody said, “We have come so far, endured so much, but we have conquered even more. To me, being a woman is celebrating what we have overcome and what we continue to build and achieve, not only today but every day. To spread love and acknowledge our struggles to ALL our sisters” Joining Erica at the event, Emma Langford comments, “More than ever before I feel a connection to the pagan festival of Imbolc this year - a time to burst from the bud, to step out of the darkness of winter and into the Spring, to take ownership of the space around us and draw energy from nature. Ireland needs as much light as it can get right now.”.

From Mexico City Tania says she loves the peace and tranquility of Ireland and more particularly Cork. AMDIE is a group based in Cork that was formed in 2014 to let people enjoy Mexican traditional dance and music. AMDIE are a wide varying community from different diverse cultures who come together to learn Latin American Choreography. This group is open to everyone with interest in dance. You don’t need previous dance experience. amdie.orgIf you are looking for an exciting new class to join visit: https://www.facebook.com/pg/MEXICANDANCEIRELAND/posts/Email: [email protected]

Soulé is one of Ireland's freshest young voices at the forefront of the new wave of Irish pop, boasting an impressive back catalogue in a relatively short space of time. For St Patrick's Festival 2021, in response to the festival's audio-visual SOLAS concept, Soulé will be pulling out all the stops to treat us to an incredible live performance bursting with colour, light, dance and theatre. In an SPF exclusive, composed of mostly brand new and yet to be heard music it also tells her personal story of love and life through expertly crafted styling and choreography alongside world class set and lighting design. Filmed at the all new home of the Complex, one of Dublin's key creative, arts and performance spaces Soulé's show will be the ultimate showcase of what Irish pop looks and sounds like in 2021. Her SPF show will be a one off chance to catch her perform her new music, with official releases due from early summer on via Diffusion Lab.Solas x Soulé is commissioned by St. Patrick’s Festival and supported by TikTok. To watch her performance visit: https://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/events/soule-live-the-complex

Whist in Varanasi in India Paddy saw a child dying of malnutrition. Off the back of that he set up a charity called 'Mother's First' with the aim of helping malnourished pregnant mothers and children in Varanasi. Recently he conducted a ‘Barefoot Paddy’ walk, which was to mark an event that happened in 1850 during the famine when 124 starving people set off from Tracton to the workhouse in Kinsale. This was to draw parallels with what happened then to now. As a result of the pandemic the are now 135 million people who are now into severe food insecurity. The reason it is being brought to your attention on international woman's day is because women are disproportionately affected by every bad thing that happens. They are Currently in a financial crisis because of being unable to carry out any fundraising. So they are now asking the public to consider texting Mother to 50300 which will then donate €4 to the charity which will have provide food for malnourished mothers for 2 weeks. If you would like to donate to mother's first visit: https://mothersfirst.net/contact-us/

The music collective is back raising funds for a worthy cause the frontline workers of Blood Bike South, following up from their previous cover of what's up by 4 non blondes with David Bowie's Heroes. The collective features musicians playing instruments that include: Guitars,Drums,Bass,Slide Guitar,Keyboards and of course vocals from fantastic Cork singers.The line up of the collective includes: David Dots Tobin, David Quirke, Stephen Balvin, Dan Murphy, Jamie Stanton, Brian O' Glanby, Leah Ahern, Wayne Mc Sweeney, Ryan Mc Sweeney, Steve Leahy, Mo O'Connor, Sinéad McCarthy, Ruairi De Leastar, Sean Carroll and of course Eoin Hennessy.It was mastered by Jamie Stanton an mixed by Dan Murphy. To hear more from East Cork Music collective visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHt7t2IV6hOv-E5AK0NUJFw Or watch the video for Heroes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcXfdJgHxXo

Alan from Buttevant is band leader with Shandrum Céili band operating from the Newtownshandrum Parish. Resurrected in 2015 as part of the All Ireland competition, Alan suggested that they use the name that the original band would have used, he then got the go ahead from Michael O' Mahony the old band leader. The band will be given the opportunity to perform on St. Patrick's Day with the scenic backdrop of Doneraile Estate. While Cian Broderick a Rockchapel native will be given the honour of doing Sean-nós dancing with the band on the day. Pre recorded in the spacious setting with a 15 minute set of Reels and slides which are local to the Area, with the help of Videographer Cal O'Callaghan. Watch the Band's performance from the comfort of your own home: https://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/

17 year old Michael Walsh is a student at Clonakilty Community College, who took part in the Young Mariner programme at Kinsale Outdoor Education Centre. Whilst out for a walk with his mother at a deserted Dunworley beach. Or at least what appeared to be deserted, until they came across a Towel, Keys and Phone. Thinking it was suspicious Michael climbed up high to try and get a better view of the surrounding area when he heard the faint cry of a Lady trapped in a sea arch under a blow hole. When hearing that the Lady was struggling his training from the Young Mariner programme instinctively kicked in ,he asked his Mother to call 911 and he went up to get a buoyancy aid and a throw rope after first establishing contact with the Lady in trouble. He kept calm while buying her time until the Coastal Cliff rescue services arrived, along with a helicopter and the RNLI all reaching the scene within 15 minutes. Well done to Michael, The Paramedic's, Coastal Rescue and Courmacsherry Lifeboat service headed up by Coxswain Sean O Farrell, Mechanic Stuart Russell and crewmembers Mark Gannon, Peter Nunan and Sean Maxwell.

Whilst Stateside in Martha's Vineyard he met a lawer who encouraged him to make the move to LA and even gave him a spin to LA in his Jet. Then when he moved to LA he put up an instagram post looking for somewhere to stay and Ryan O'Shaughnessy guided him in the direction of both a manager and accommodation. This then led to an internship with Crush music management. Who represent such high profile names such as :Sia,Lorde,Fall Out Boy and Green Day. In the coming months Bill has written with and for: Tim Chadwick,Cian Ducrot and Lenii.

Chatting about the band's love for grunge and the fact that they weren't old enough to see Nirvana play Sir Henry's. Happy Alone is made up of: Baxter, Slee and Jay.To hear more of the band's music visit: https://www.facebook.com/happyalonehappy/https://open.spotify.com/artist/07cGsRL23DtuPJnawMKACY?si=IXeQmlQYS7qQrqvuMJHpyw&nd=1

Aoife was a tour manager to such artists as; Mumford and Sons, Tame Impala and former first lady Michelle Obama. Other artists that Aoife would have formed relationships with from working with MCD would be; Madonna, Prince, Jay Z, Beyonce, Arcade Fire and Daft Punk. Like all good stories Aoife's career as a tour manager started in Cork, where she was involved in a Hip Hop night with Fresh and Funky. Following this she went to Dublin and became acquainted with a promoter called Gilly Robertson who was involved with the Notting Hill carnival and Fresh and Funky in London and he asked her to set up an event in Dublin at a club called HQ. This then became Spirit where Aoife sold out student nights to over 2,500 people for 5 years on a weekly basis. After this she started working for MCD promotions.