Cliffords Cork City Hall Homecoming Review
By Cliffords Close Their Tour With a Historic Cork Blowout
Cliffords brought their tour to a triumphant close Saturday night, storming a sold-out Cork City Hall with the kind of fire that only comes from a band on a white-hot streak. Returning home after what’s arguably been their busiest, boldest year yet, the quintet played with the confidence of a group who know they’re standing on the edge of something much bigger.
They kicked things off with the unreleased “Marsh,” a ballad-turned-screamer that instantly underlined just how far the Cliffords’ songwriting has sharpened— a bold opener, and a clear signal that the band are already writing beyond the boundaries of their debut era.
From there, they dove headfirst into a run of cuts from Strawberry Scented. “If the Shoe Fits,” “Second Skin,” “Sugar,” and “Shattered Glass” landed in quick succession — tight, urgent, and louder than they’ve ever sounded, songs that now feel like they belong to the fans as much as to the band.
Predictably, it was “If the Shoe Fits” that sent City Hall into full voice, its infectious oohs ricocheting off the walls like the room was built for that exact moment. The track still hits like a sugar rush.
At times they paused for some loose, good-natured banter with the crowd, with Iona Lynch recalling childhood visits to City Hall — a small, disarming moment that grounded the night in something tender amid all the noise and momentum.
When they dropped “My Favourite Monster,” the crowd erupted into an even louder frenzy, bodies swaying as if pulled by the track’s darkness. This complicated love song, wrapped in Iona’s coarse-velvet vocals, hits something raw and universal — and rightly so. It’s a straight-up masterpiece of songwriting.
Closing with the guitar-heavy “Bittersweet,” I found myself stepping back to take in the room — the grand ballroom balcony, the century-old walls that look like they’ve swallowed a million stories. There was something poetic about the Cliffords ending their tour here, in a place steeped in its own history, as they quietly carved out a new chapter of theirs.
As for the night itself, Iona Lynch, Gavin Dawkins, Harry Menton, Daniel Ryan, and Locon O’Toole delivered a performance that felt impossibly tight yet fully alive — the perfect set for a perfect night. Each member locked into their role with a conviction that suggests the Cliffords aren’t just hitting their stride, they’re tearing straight past it. Roll on 2026.
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Setlist
| Marsh If the Shoe Fits Second Skin Sugar Shattered Glass R&H Hall Paper Dress Cowboy | Dungarvan Bay My Favourite Monster Blondie Antihero Feels Like a Man Sleeping with Ghosts Bittersweet |
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Opening Act Maicin
Maicin — another rising force from Cork’s own backyard — did the honours of opening for the Cliffords, and it must be said, they were a revelation for anyone catching them for the first time like me. Their set flickered with energy, sharp hooks, tight musicianship and a warmth that filled the room
They opened with “Critical Regionalism,” “Looking Up,” and “Is What It Is,” but the real standouts were “Che Guevara” and “Find Somebody New” — both catchy in completely different ways and delivered with a presence that belied their opener status. By the time they wrapped, it was obvious Macin are a band worth catching again. A cracking start to the night.