Live at Musgrave Park: Becky Hill finds 'The Spark' at Cork concert

The audience at Musgrave Park in Cork on Friday night were delighted when Becky Hill brought out the Kabin Crew from Hollyhill in Cork and the Lisdoonvarna Crew from Clare for a guest spot to perform their hit song 'The Spark'. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

After a day of consistent downpours, hordes of fans sporting summery shorts, vests, and dresses — and fake tan galore — arrived at the Tramore Rd site in Cork late on Friday afternoon, ready to see the pop sensation and clearly hoping to defy the odds by bringing good weather into the stadium with them.

Jazzy playing support to Becky Hill at her concert at Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) in Cork on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Their can-do attitude makes sense: After all, the woman they were all here to see is no stranger to defying the odds herself. Hill found fame as a runner-up on the first season of The Voice UK; a show that went on to gain a reputation for not bolstering its contestants’ careers all that much, with few of her Voice counterparts achieving chart success.

The huge crowd singing along with Becky Hill in Cork on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

This unusually lucky streak has seen Hill’s career go from strength to strength over the last decade, and it only continued in Cork on Friday evening.

As the number of fans pouring into the stadium to see her soared, so too did the temperatures. By the time support act Jazzy took to the stage to kick off proceedings, the crowd was feeling just that, with the sun breaking through and shining down upon them.

That electric energy from the crowd was through the roof by the time Hill raced on stage, launching into one of her newest releases, ‘True Colours’, followed by fan favourite ‘Overdrive ’.

Mothers of Kabin Crew members — who created the hit song 'The Spark' in collaboration with the Lisdoonvarna Crew — Stacy Cullinane, Aisling White, Chanelle Dennehy, Sophie O'Connell, Nathalie O'Shea, and Ellen Cronin at the Becky Hill concert at Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) in Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Her breakup anthem ‘Wish You Well’ proved to be a particular crowd pleaser, with countless angry fingers being jabbed in the air and sassy hair flips being done. 

The majority of Hill’s fanbase are young teenage girls — as you can tell just from looking at the crowd on Friday night — and it’s touching to see just how empowered they are by the feisty star.

Becky Hill delivered a powerful upbeat positive performance at Virgin Media Park (Musgrave Park) in Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

By the end of the night, each and every one of them left grinning ear-to-ear, that bit more confident than when they arrived.

It’s impossible to deny that Becky Hill has left a very special glow over Cork on what started as a dreary day where we all desperately needed it.

Next up in the Virgin Media Park / Musgrave Park series of summer concerts is Picture This, who take to the stage on Saturday night.  Shania Twain and The Wolfe Tones are among the other acts playing there this month.

Out and about at Becky Hill's concert in Cork

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Ciara and Elsie Kenneally, Alan and Maya O'Keeffe, Anna Hutchinson, and Charlei May McCarthy, all from Hollyhill at the Becky Hill concert at Musgrave Park in Cork. Picture: Eddie O'HareSara and Fiadh McSweeney from Whitechurch Co Cork at the Becky Hill concert at Virgin Media Park (Musgrave Park). Picture: Eddie O'HareEva Brice, Bishopstown, and James Tobin, Cathedral Rd, at the Becky Hill concert at Musgrave Park in Cork. Picture: Eddie O'HareCorey Holton, Hollyhill, and Reece McCarthy, Knocknaheeney, were looking forward to Becky Hill's concert on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'HareShauna and Aaron Kenny from Dublin at the Becky Hill concert at Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) in Cork on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'HareEmma O'Hare and Emily Hall arriving for Becky Hill's concert at Musgrave Park in Cork on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'HarePhilip Kehoe, Ivana Kroscenova, and Rory Higgins from Dunmanway Co Cork were looking forward to Becky Hill's concert at Musgrave Park in Cork City. Picture: Eddie O'HareGillian Ngai, Rosanna Murphy, and Emma O'Keeffe at Friday night's Becky Hill concert at Musgrave Park in Cork. Picture: Eddie O'HareMia Ngai, Kayla Murphy, Rhia O'Keeffe, Emma Hannigan, and Caoimhe O'Flaherty from Grange and Carrigaline in Cork at the Becky Hill concert at Musgrave Park (or Virgin Media Park) on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'HareBecky Hill in concert at Virgin Media Park, Cork, on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'Hare The audience at the Becky Hill concert at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'HareJodie Carr, Ballyvolane; Chloe French, Douglas; Aaliyah Crowley, Togher; and Adam O'Connor, Upper Glanmire, at the Becky Hill concert on Friday night. Picture: Eddie O'Hare A group of fans from Glanmire in Cork arriving for Becky Hill's concert at Virgin Media Park, Cork, on Friday. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The latest updates and results from Cork as they happen - HERE