INTRODUCTION
Interference is an Irish band based around singer-songwriter Fergus O’Farrell. Their sound has influenced a generation of Irish musicians, and are featured in the Academy award winning movie ‘Once’

Amidst the performances by the main characters, played by the Swell Season duo of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Interference have a cameo moment and play O’Farrell’s song ‘Gold’.

The Movie went on to inspire the multiple Tony Winning Musical of the same name which has played repeatedly on Broadway and The West End in the United Kingdom, it has toured across America three times and has had other notable productions in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Korea and Argentina. O’Farrell’s song ‘Gold’ features strongly in the musical and is often the song of choice for the cast to sing when making television and promotional appearances.

Interference have also had songs included in the soundtracks for Alan Gilsenan’s ‘All Soul’s Day’ and Damien O’Donnell’s ‘Inside I’m Dancing.” Both critically acclaimed films . A collaboration with Glen Hansard, the song ‘Don’t Go Down’ features in another John Carney award winning Movie, ‘Sing Street’.

Interference have appeared no less than three times on the Other Voices Television series, Irelands premiere music show. One such appearance was actually a one hour Interference special which in itself led to the release of the live CD ‘Interference Live in Dingle: Songs from another room’.

In 2018 The Trinity College Dublin’s Music Society awarded Interference an Honorary Patronage into the College faculty in recognition of their contribution to Irish Music.

A new award winning film documentary on the life of O’Farrell entitled ‘Breaking Out’ was due for a cinema release by Element Pictures in 2020, due to Covid19 restrictions the launch has been postponed. Filmed over ten years it follows O’Farrell and his band from their own recording studio set up in Dublin in the early ’90’s to their triumphant performance in Radio City Music Hall in 2008 with Hansard and the Swell Season and onwards to the last recording sessions, O’Farrell’s passing in early 2016 and the release in 2017 of their last album ‘The Sweet Spot’.
To accompany the film a soundtrack album has been made, of the 31 interference tracks featured in the film 11 have been re-mastered by 12 times Grammy award winning Bob Ludwig in Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine, USA.

Interference still perform live always selling out their shows, with Hansard often assuming lead vocals or as their alter ego Dogtail Soup.

Current Interference Band Members
[and other acts associated with]

Glen Hansard

[The Frames, Glen Hansard Band, The Commitments, The Swell Season, Eddie Vedder, The Earthlings]

James O’Leary

[Avian Attak, DogTail soup, Bickley/O’Leary, Minafiori]

Paul Tiernan

[Flex and The Fast Weather, Paul Tiernan Band, Paul Tiernan/Mandy Murphy, Katell Keineg, DogTail Soup, The Listeners, Camilla Griehsel]

Camilla Griehsel

[Colin Vearncombe aka Black, Vespertine Quintet, Barefoot Baroque, Mamasongue, DogTail Soup]

Maurice Seezer

[Gavin Friday, U2, Colin Vearncombe aka Black, Maria McKee, Andrea Corr, Sinéad O’Connor, Paul Tiernan, DogTail Soup]

John Fitzgerald

[Gilbert O’Sullivan Band, Roy Harper Band, Bill Shanley Band, Rick Astley, DogTail Soup]

Anthony Noonan

[Amoured Bear, West Cork Ukulele Orchestra, Roy Harper Band, Fred, Mick Flannery, Gavin Moore, Bill Shanley Band, DogTail Soup, Quiet Band]

Bertrand Galen

[The Swell season, DogTail Soup]

Marja Gaynor

[The Swell Season, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Camerata Kilkenny, DogTail Soup]

Cal McCarthy

[Shed, Avian Attak, Glen Hansard, Californian Businessman]

A BRIEF HISTORY OF INTERFERENCE
Fergus O’Farrell (vocals, piano & guitar) and James O’Leary (guitars) formed Interference during their time in Clongowes Wood College from 1983 to 1986. While in Clongowes they auditioned various friends and referrals to fill out the remaining positions in the band. Maurice Culligan from Ennis joined on piano and keyboard, Kevin Murphy from Cork took up the bass guitar and cello and Cal MacCarthy also from Cork became the band’s first drummer. Malcolm MacClancy, another school friend became Fergus’ song-writing partner and the journey began.
In 1986 on leaving college the band moved to Dublin. They took up residence in the old Winstanley shoe factory (more recently Mother Redcaps Tavern & Market, now sadly derelict awaiting re-development) alongside two other promising new outfits, The Hothouse Flowers and The Black Velvet Band, featuring Maria Doyle Kennedy. During this time (October 1986) based on their recently recorded demo tape they were selected to perform on the debut edition of , ‘Borderline’, RTÉ’s (Ireland’s National TV station) first youth friendly magazine show. Also on that first show was blues legend BB King who told O’Farrell he had …

“…a lot of living in that voice for such a young man”

On the strength of their performance, Interference were commissioned by RTÉ to make an original video to be directed by Gerry Stembridge, one of Ireland’s leading filmmakers. The resulting video of ‘The Doll’ was selected as one of the finest Irish made pop videos of the decade.
By early 1987 the band had actually performed more on television than in live venues; one main reason for this was the lack of a full time competent fiddle player, Kevin’s brother (Bernard) stepping in when the need arose. On a recommendation from The Waterboys’ Steve Wickham, Colm McCaughey joined the fledgling group….
With a completed line-up the band rehearsed, developed and wrote new material with the goal of creating a unique sound to compete with their contemporaries on the Irish music scene, during a period of very high quality home grown musical talent. From 1987 to 1988 they were being touted by the music press as the next breakthrough act with several awe inspiring showcases and support slots including some with their old housemates, The Hothouse Flowers. After one such show in City Hall in Cork (with the Flowers) one reviewer wrote,

“…the support act was so powerful you almost forgot who you were there for…I witnessed the auspicious performance in Cork when they played with the Hothouse Flowers . Though some might describe them as a little rough around the edges, Interference positively bewitched the audience” (Cork Tribune, July 1988)

Then in early 1988 due to overwork and stress, O’Farrell, who suffered from Muscular Dystrophy developed nodules on his vocal cords. He was forced to stop singing for fear of further damaging his voice. It was an indefinite stop, nobody being able to place a time frame on when he might be able to perform again. To keep themselves busy, some of the members of Interference loaned their musical talent to other bands doing the rounds of Irelands vibrant live music scene. Maurice Culligan joined up with Kieran Kennedy’s ‘Black Velvet Band’ and also with Vinnie Kilduff’s ‘Rocking Chairs’, Colm McCaughey became Niall Toners fiddle man in ‘Hank HalfHead and the Rambling Turkeys’. McCaughey and Kevin Murphy also became a string duo (violin & cello) and sessioned with just about everybody making a record in Dublin, as well as appearing as guest musicians for several travelling bands.

James O’Leary went back to college to study architecture (and became one) but Cal McCarthy had decided his path led elsewhere. He left the band in the summer of 1988 to pursue other avenues. Brian Ormond who had tried his hand at managing the band became the Tour Manager for the Hot House Flowers before ultimately becoming Radioheads Road Manager for several years.

Late in 1988, after months of inactivity for Interference as a working unit, events began to take shape, once more drawing the lads together again. O’Farrell’s voice was practically back to normal, he had been moonlighting with Colm McCaughey and Kevin Murphy as a three-piece calling themselves ‘The Back Lane Boys’ (the street on which Winstanleys /Mother Redcaps was located) and as with the first few outings with Interference they were making huge waves, this time on the acoustic circuit.

After some guest appearances from James O’Leary and Maurice Culligan at Back Lane Boy’s gigs it was decided to reform the full band and a nationwide search began for a new drummer. Several drummers were tried out including fellow Cork Man Willie Walsh, who after only a few gigs decided his musical journey was in a different direction.. For a one-off showcase in Mother Redcaps Tavern, their former home, it seemed only right that they were joined for the evening by old Winstanley residents Jerry Fehily and Leo Barnes from the Hothouse Flowers for a very memorable night.

A newfound enthusiasm existed, months of rehearsals were endured along with no less than 35 auditions for a new drummer, new material was tried out, and eventually in early 1990 when Ray McCann, a Londoner (and Jazz drummer by trade) came along, everyone knew the hard work had been worth it. The Band decamped to Schull in west Cork (O’Farrell’s hometown) for a month to develop a new set with McCann, away from all the distractions of the big city and returned to Dublin to do something they had never previously tried…they were going to hit the road. Their schedule took them all over the country for most of the next year, from Kerry and Cork to Limerick, Clare and Galway to Northern Ireland and even across to The UK for a show-stopping performance in London’s’ Mean Fiddler Club at the request of Dave Fanning who was putting on several Showcase gigs of unsigned Irish Bands for the music industry.

On returning to their old stomping grounds in Dublin they played a brace of gigs in Dublin’s Trinity College, where their new sound and electrifying performance received not one but two standing ovations on each night. They followed this up with slots at both the Trinity and UCD Freshers Balls winning the accolade in the reviews of both as ‘Best band of the night’. On foot of these performances they were asked to play the 1990 Trinity Ball, a very coveted engagement. The review from this show read…

“…thus they have an image amongst the music intelligentsia as being something of a supergroup. An image compounded by the fact their music is a mix of virtually everything the boys listen to. Interference play with such energy and confidence and musical obsessiveness that they throw most of their comtempories to shame…” (Entertainment TCD, College review 1990)

The next two outings were the New York Music Seminar in the United States and the Festirock festival in Dijon, France.

The following couple of years were spent trying for the elusive record deal, eventually realising if you want something done…you have to do it yourself.
Interference embarked on a project of financing and installing their own recording studio.at the time an absolutely unique concept. Much of the expense for this was gathered from intense gigging around the country, combined with begged, borrowed and donated funds, bringing along with them on several trips two wide eyed teenage buskers, Glen Hansard and Mic Christopher who would open for them as the ‘Blotto Brothers’. These two went on to form their own bands, The Frames and Mary Janes respectively.

In 1992 Ray McCann left; it would seem that Interference’ achilles heel was going to be drummers, and they were joined by Billy Gegarthy formerly of the Swinging Swine on Drums and Ronan Gleeson on second guitar.

WINSTANLEY STUDIO
In 1993, having moved out of the Winstanley factory (as it was being developed into Mother Redcaps) they converted O’Farrell’s new home (he didn’t go very far, he moved to the adjacent John Dillon Street) into a 16 track recording studio using bedrooms and the kitchen as individual sound booths, the band soon embarked on their recording career.

Creating their own record label ‘Shack’ they recorded and released ‘Looking For Someone’ as part of a 4 track EP. Billy Gegharty had decided he wanted to do only live work, not studio, so once again Interference found themselves drummer-less. Paul ‘Binzer’ Brennan, the Frames’ drummer stepped in to record the single in the newly established Winstanley Studio and John Huxton toured with the band promoting it.

The song reached number 15 in the charts and received great critical acclaim, being cited as one of the records of the year by Larry Gogan in his yearly roundup that Christmas. O’Farrell, who was now a wheelchair user due to the slowly progressing MD, was becoming less convinced that a record deal was ever going to come his way he was going to have to do it himself and the task of making the debut album began.

THE ALBUM
From a starting point of some 100 songs a short list of 30 and a final selection of 12 songs were chosen for the record. The next twelve months or so was spent working on these tracks, drawing in an extraordinary collection of international musicians to complement their own skills including Donal Lunny, Fred Parcells, Liam O’Maonlai and Jerry Fehily, Katell Keineg and Maria McKee, who had befriended the band as she was living in Dublin at the time and was just about to release her own debut album, along with some local ‘senior’ musicians like Maurice Seezer , Honor Heffernan, Maria Doyle Kennedy, James Blennerhassett, Glen Hansard, Conor Brady, Robbie Casserly, Dave McCune and Paul Moore, to name but a few.

The result, a beautifully crafted work justly placing Interference in the ‘wow’ section of your local record store. Whelan’s, the live music venue were dipping their toes into the record label world and decided that they could do worse than make the Interference album their first release (after all, the work was all done, right down to the artwork). The album ‘Interference’ was released to fantastic reviews and sizeable airplay in 1995.

The band continued to gig, with yet another lineup change; Ronan Gleeson had moved on and was replaced by Cian Roche on Guitars and released another single ‘Vinegar Girl’ a collaboration with Frames front man Glen Hansard. The single did well, the reviews were good, the coverage on TV and radio more than fair, but alas there was still no interest from an international record company. They all came and had a look but O’Farrell’s condition proved too much of an obstacle for them all, one memorable encounter with an A&R man who told O’Farrell…

“He could sell blind, but not crippled” 

Each and every record company scout left empty handed. In late 1994 Joey Pleass joined the band on drums for live shows, having previously been with both ‘Hank Halfhead’ and ‘The Dixons’ he was no stranger to the interference gang, it was however just to keep the gigs going while Interference searched for the permanent drummer they still needed. When Joey couldn’t sit in the band could always call on Jerry Fehily, longtime collaborator and honorary Interference person.

The following couple of years were bittersweet for the band, a couple of nuptials, a new permanent drummer was found in the very capable hands of Justin Healy, ex ‘Forget Me Nots’ and ‘Golden Horde’ sticksman, some amazing residencies, Whelans in particular, a few country road trips, Paul Tiernan had now also joined the live line-up to take some of the pressure off O’Farrell, playing guitar and singing harmonies and backing vocals. Great work was also had in the studio, recording with other bands, and learning more about production and engineering from the likes of Kieran Kennedy, Maurice Roycroft, Gavin Friday and DanDan Fitzgerald, but in the end Interference called it a day.

Late summer of 1996, Interference played their last live gig in Dublin’s Redbox, some new material was aired and as always well received. The lads continued to be part of the music scene, playing as session musicians, guesting with other bands, and getting involved with different projects.

O’Farrell moved his studio down to Schull and continued writing and recording for himself, working with the likes of Maria Doyle, Kieran Kennedy, Paul Tiernan and Maurice Roycroft. Kevin Murphy had toured the world with Gavin Friday and formed a new band ‘Igloo’ with Cian Roche (Murphy would go on to a very successful career with ‘Seti The First’ and later ‘Slowly Moving Clouds’ and with his own solo work under the moniker ‘BlindStich Music’)
Colm McCaughey became a television news cameraman by day and continued to play fiddle, doing an astounding 5-year residency with the Blades frontman Paul Cleary in ‘the Cajun Kings’ a supergroup of sorts with musicians from several Dublin bands in Whelan’s, until they decided they wanted their Sundays back. James O’Leary went back to architecture, designed and built stuff and Justin Healy returned to session drumming while still working away with various pop and rock combos, ‘Lir’ and ‘The Late Late Show Band’ being regular gigs. Paul Tiernan went solo again and divided his time between Ireland, Wales and France. Andrew Philpott (sometime drummer and studio wizard) joined Depeche Mode and went around the world a few times, before ending up, like several more interference peoples in West Cork.

THE RETURN
Early summer 2002…Gavin Harte (aka Ropey Kareoke) and Marc McDonald, the long suffering backroom men had a desire to put the band back together again. Each member was approached and asked what they thought of a reunion gig. The overwhelming response was yes. A plan was then hatched and the result was a return to live performance for a once off appearance in Schull on 14th September. A full house, an Indian summer’s night (the gig was transferred to outdoors due to ticket demand) and a buzz amongst the gathered crowd not seen by the Interference gang for many years.

They brought the house down. The line up was a true Interference collective, Paul Tiernan, Colm McCaughey, Kevin Murphy, James O’Leary, Cian Roche, Justin Healy and O’Farrell were joined for the night by DanDan Fitzgerald (the band’s studio producer) on percussion and Cal McCarthy O’Farrell’s original drummer made a comeback. This kick started a renewed interest in the band with several radio shows picking up on the band, in particular Philip King and Tom Dunne. Interference played as special guests to The Frames during their set on Mic Christopher’s anniversary concert in late November, there were rumours of more gigs to come. Interference were back.

OTHER VOICES
December 2002 brought a new lease of life for the band with an invitation from Philip King to join a line up of new talent he intended showcasing in early 2003 for a 13-part television series entitled ‘Other Voices: Songs from a room’. Frames front man Glen Hansard hosted a week of concerts in Dingle, all of which were recorded for television. Interference joined up with the assembled musicians including The Frames, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Nina Hynes, Damien Rice and Mundy and performed a memorable acoustic set.

It was one of the week’s highlights. O’Farrell joined Maria Doyle Kennedy for a couple of songs during her performance, Hansard joined Interference for a couple of tracks and Paul Tiernan even managed to squeeze in a solo set for himself. Since that very first show Interference have returned to ‘Other Voices’ no less then three times, it is now Irelands premiere music show. Interference’s have had a one hour special in their own name which got such a response it became a Live CD album ‘Interference Live in Dingle : Other Voices – Songs from a Room”.

Over the Christmas period Band Producer DanDan Fitzgerald and O’Farrell decided the time was right to re-release the now cult ‘Interference’ album. New up to date artwork was arranged and a fresh faced CD of the near impossible to get album was produced. A new mix of the song ‘Public Address’ was also released to radio, a blatant anti war song with strong reference to the first Gulf War, it seemed a suitably ironic message for then climate as the world approached another conflict in the Middle East. O’Farrell gave an in-depth interview to national newspaper The Examiner, his first for a number of years in January 2003 and they responded by printing a full page spread on the band, O’Farrell and his plans for the future. Work began on new songs for possible single release,

Interference continued to pop up for the odd guest appearance, notably as guests of old friends The Frames during their gigs that month in Whelan’s in Dublin. An appearance on Pat Kenny’s radio show during Valentine’s week drew an enormous reaction and led to even more interest in the band with Pat Kenny inviting the band to perform on The Late Late Show, Ireland’s biggest television show.

ONCE & GOLD
Over the next few years Interference outings became sporadic as O’Farrell’s health caused long periods of inactivity. There was a very special third ‘Other Voices’ appearance where Interference with a new collective of mainly Cork and West Cork musicians performed some of their new material they had been working on for the long awaited second album.

That night saw spell binding introductions to songs like ‘Gold’, ‘Don’t Go Down’ and ‘Sail On’, alongside many old favourites. O’Farrell was joined on stage by his band of exceptional musicians Paul Tiernan, James O’Leary, Maurice Seezer, Marja Gaynor, Darren McCarthy, Anthony Noonan, Bertrand Galen and two recently recruited blow ins to west cork, Colin Vearncombe aka Black and his wife Sweedish Songtress Camilla Griehsel. RTÉ memorably billed the band as…

“Almost mythical, definitely legendary.” (RTE Guide)

Many Interference songs are written with lyricist Malcolm MacClancy, with whom O’Farrell has worked since meeting in school. The Song ‘Gold’ however is an O’Farrell solo composition, and it features in John Carneys Box Office Hit film Once. Released in 2007 the film sees Interference sitting in a kitchen during a house party where he sings ‘Gold’ with members of interference to the folks that are there.

The film of course led to Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova winning an Academy award at the following years Oscars for their song ‘Falling Slowly’ but it is O’Farrell’s song which has gone on to be synonymous with the film and it features strongly in the subsequent Broadway multiple Tony Award winning musical of the same name, often being the song of choice for the cast to perform on Television and promotional appearances.

Interference have also had songs included in the soundtracks for Alan Gilsenan’s ‘All Soul’s Day’ and Damien O’Donnell’s ‘Inside I’m Dancing.” Both critically acclaimed films . A collaboration with Glen Hansard, the song ‘Don’t go Down’ features in another John Carney Movie, ‘Sing Street’. The success of ‘Gold’ led O’Farrell to sign a worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music.

Glen Hansard was touring the world with his new band The Swell Season on the back of his success with Once and invited O’Farrell and interference to join them in Radio City Music Hall and Tower Theatre in Philidelphia for the final shows of the tour. The Swell Season was made up of the duo of Hansard and Irglova along with Marja Gaynor and Bertrand Galen who also happened to be members of O’Farrell’s new interference collective based in Cork.
These shows were spectacular, receiving standing ovations on both nights, interference were finally on top of the world.

DOGTAIL SOUP
O’Farrell co-wrote and often shared his stage with Colin Vearncombe (aka Black of ‘Wonderful Life’ fame), David Bickley/Hyper[borea], Gavin Friday and The Man Seezer, Maria Doyle Kennedy & kieran Kennedy, Glen Hansard, Liam O’Maonlai, Mundy, Nina Hynes and Paul Tiernan to name but a few.

O’Farrell, Vearncombe, Griehsel, Seezer and Paul Tiernan came up with a concept of creating a group where each of them would alternate the role of singer, each doing their own songs and some choice covers to boot. This was to be called ‘DogTail Soup’ , the name derived from a line in one of Vearncombes ‘Black’ songs (Cold Chicken Skin).

This alternate version of interference has garnered its own very loyal following around the venues of west cork and has toured the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Several more band members came and went including, Darren McCarthy, Upright Bass, Gareth Hughes, Gareth Forsyth and Paul Griffin on guitars, Karl Penny on drums was replaced by Anthony Noonan and Cal McCarthy returned permanently giving the band(s) two drummers on call, a definite first for O’Farrell. John Fitzgerald joined the groups as bassist, he also plays guitar, piano, drums and sings, he’s also very handy in the studio , his day job is running the Lettercollum Recording Studio where he is senior engineer and studio manager.

THE CZECH REPUBLIC
An inspiring development of the last few years of the noughties was Interference’s conquering of the hearts of audiences in the Czech Republic and Slovakia with O’Farrell and Co touring several times, with Maria Doyle Kennedy, Mark Geary, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, both as Interference and as DogTail Soup. There were trips to Italy, Poland and Switzerland too during 2005 and 2006. ‘Irish night’ in the Náměšť Folk Festival is a very special occasion, noble souls putting it out for lovers who listen in the medieval courtyard of Namest Castle.

Others on stage at the Namest Festival in 2006 included Bell X1 and Glen Hansard. The Interference performance on Irish night is available on a live CD called ‘Irsky Den’ but only if you know where to find it! O’Farrell often said this night in the beautiful Czech Castle was his best night on stage ever.

In 2007 Interference headlined an Irish music festival in Bologna, Italy run over St.Patrick’s weekend and O’Farrell and Interference returned to Czech playing eleven dates in nine nights across the Republic, Slovakia and Poland to their ever growing legion of fans.

AVIAN ATTAK
O’Farrell teamed up with David Bickley and James O’Leary in 2014 forming a new musical collective calling themselves Avian Attak. Bickley formely of Hyper[Borea] and an award winning filmmaker and TV producer along with Interference guitarist O’Leary combined with O’Farrells vocals creating atmospheric electronica to critical acclaim. They have released two albums to date ‘Avian Attak’ in 2015 and ‘Spinning World’ in 2019 as well as some EP CD singles. They have been known to get Peter Green of Orb fame involved with the mixing on occasion.

THE FILM
Interference performed infrequently as did DogTail Soup throughout the remaining noughties and into the teenies. Work continued on the elusive second album, this was to prove a near decade long journey, O’Farrell’s health was seriously deteriorating, which led to long periods of rest. A film project had also begun, Michael McCormack began filming O’Farrell and his world in 2015, for over ten years he continued shooting, the resulting award winning film documentary is an extraordinarily beautiful film chronicling the story of O’Farrell and interference from its origins in school where O’Farrell, O’Leary and MacClancy first met, through the Winstanley years, the return to west cork, falling in love, the breakthrough with ‘Gold’ and the resulting majestic performance in Radio City Music Hall , the european tours and on to the slow decline, and the last recording sessions with Glen Hansard and members of the Frames.

‘Breaking Out’ the film was due a cinema release from Element Pictures in 2020 but had to be postponed due to covid19 restrictions. The film will hit the screens soon and there will be a supporting live tour from the band who will be fronted by Glen Hansard, and an accompanying soundtrack album of 11 tracks from the 31 songs featured in the film. Completely remixed by DanDan Fitzgerald in SoundSound in Cork and remastered by 12 time grammy winning Bob Ludwig in Gateway Mastering Studio in Porland, Maine, USA.

Colin Vearncombe lost his life after a devastating car crash in January 2016 as O’Farrell, Hansard and The Frames gang were recording the last of the album sessions, unbelievably O’Farrell departed not a week later on 2nd February. As his sister noted at the time…

‘we spent our whole lives expecting him to die, then he went and died unexpectantly’.

The community of Schull lost two of their treasured souls the same week, the music world lost their genius and beauty they both readily shared with the world. The Tribe gathered for a farewell , the likes of which this small west cork village is unlikely to see again. One year to the day 32 musicians took to the stage in Cork Opera House to celebrate O’Farrell and his work, his music was played for nearly four hours with vocal duties shared between some notable friends, Glen Hansard, Camilla Griehsel, Paul Tiernan and Seezer were joined by Liam Ó’Maonlaí, Mundy, Jerry Fish, Alan Tobin, Ciara O’Driscoll, Katell Keineg, Joe O’Leary, Gavin Harte, Maurice Culligan, Sara Caccamo, Noreen O’Donnell and Mick O’Callaghan who sang with Interference both past and present, James O’Leary, John Fitzgerald, Anto Noonan, Cal McCarthy, Bertrand Galen, Marja Gaynor, Colm McCaughey, Darren McCarthy, Jerry Fehily, Graham Hopkins, Justin Healy, Herbie Macken, Jack O’Rourke and Niall O’Driscoll, many other Interferencers sat in the audience. There was a repeat performance in Vicar Street, Dublin a couple of days later, both shows completely selling out. The shows were put together by Interference archivist Marc McDonald and compared by Philip King . The Interference Tribe came together from all corners of the world to celebrate O’Farrell, his music and his life. The Long awaited second album finally saw the light of day too, ‘The Sweet Spot’ was released on 2nd February 2017. DanDan Fitzgerald finishing the production in time for the anniversary shows.

The Band has continued to perform without O’Farrell with Glen Hansard doing the honours on lead vocals, selling out every show they’ve played both here in Ireland and abroad, like 2017’s Electric Picnic, headlining friday night on Jerry Fish’s Electric Sideshow and the following years Clonakilty Guitar Festival, after performing once more across the Czech Republic where they returned in 2018 in honor of O’Farrell to headline across a series of Festivals over ten days. In 2018 Interference were inducted by the Trinity College Dublin Musical Society to the College Faculty in honor of their contribution to Irish Music.
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to be continued