BY SEÁN P. FEENY

Next Friday, Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewey, will play host to an intimate concert with one of the best Irish songwriters to break onto the music scene in years.

Contemporaries and big hitters of the music world have all outed themselves as fans of award-winning singer Declan O'Rourke, including none other than Paul Weller.

In an interview with Q Magazine, Weller was asked what song in the last 20 years he wished he had written to which the former Jam and Style Council frontman chose Declan's song 'Galileo'.

"It was such a nice surprise, I had heard that he liked the song but it was a really lovely thing of him to plug it like that," said Declan.

"I have met Paul since and he is a real gentleman and obviously a fabulous songwriter, but I think it's about time he covered 'Galileo'," he laughed.

Just back from performing at an Irish Film Board party at the Cannes Film Festival, Declan said coming to Ionad Cois Locha was a spontaneous decision, but the gig had been on the cards for quite some time.

"The organiser Ian [Smith] had asked me some time ago if I'd like to perform there and I told him to give me a shout whenever he wanted to do it so a few weeks ago he called me and we got things organised."

Not having played there before, Declan said he is really looking forward to the gig: "I've played at other venues in Letterkenny and Dungloe but I've been wanting to come to Dunlewey for some time now as I hear it's a really nice, intimate venue."

Following the release of his second album, 'Big Bad Beautiful World', late last year Declan has been touring relentlessly around Ireland and abroad, including a tour of Australia.

The new album has a very different sound compared to Declan's debut 'Since Kyabram': "Of course, I was very happy with the sound of the first album, but sometimes it was hard to gig with the lack of upbeat songs," said Declan.

While tracks like 'Big Bad Beautiful World' and 'Bein' Your Friend' have that bigger sound there are still tracks with the sound that the singer is best known for such as 'Whatever Else Happens' and 'Just To Be Friends'.

One of the most beautiful songs on the album is 'One Day In A War', a song driven by the marching sound of a snare drum and piccolo flutes playing in the background resounding the sound of going to war.

Declan said: " I really enjoyed recording that song. The idea for it came from a Ghandi quote when he said 'There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for'.

"I also read there hadn't been a day without war on the world since the early 1800s which I was quite amazed about so I decided to write a song about a day in the life of a soldier."

A man of many talents, Declan produced both his albums and has also worked on other music projects: "I wasn't hell bent on producing my own music, but it was just a case of finances on the first album and later with the second album, and as I had demo'd all the songs anyway I knew what I would want them to sound like," said Declan.

"I'm also producing an album for a very close friend of mine, whom I've been involved with in music for a very long time and when he asked me to produce his album I was more than delighted to help him out."

The Dublin native who recently moved to Galway, has just been nominated in the 'Best Male' category of the 2nd annual Balcony TV Awards soon to be held at the Sugar Club in Dublin.

Since launching in 2006 the award-winning balconytv.com, has gained huge popularity with it's daily online music performances on a small balcony overlooking Dame Street in Dublin.

"I received a myspace message the other day telling me that I have been nominated," said Declan, "I really enjoyed the very interesting experience of performing on Balcony TV, but I remember it was quite cold out there," he laughed.

Declan has done several performances with the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, an experience he said he'd recommend to any musician.

"It was just so great working with such professionals and it was something I had always wanted to do."

The performance at Ionad Cois Locha will be a slightly broken down sound, with Declan performing his songs accompanied by just guitar and piano.

"The songs will still be pretty much the same, but for people who may not have seen me before I will try and showcase what I do and for the ones that have seen me before I'll do my best to play better than the last time, it should be good fun," he laughed.

Tickets are on sale at Ionad Cois Locha, Dun Luiche, Matt Bonar's, Bunbeg, An Stor, Falcarragh, Given's Gift Shop, Dungloe and The Music Centre, Letterkenny.

So don't miss this great opportunity of seeing Declan O'Rourke at his best in the intimate surroundings of Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewey, on Friday, 30 May. For more information call 086 6050110.

For more see the Donegal News online editions