In August 2023, the music world lost a shining star—Cork musician Eoin French, known as Talos, at the age of 36. His passing left a void in the hearts of many, especially those at the biennial music festival Sounds from a Safe Harbour (SFSH). French wasn’t just a performer; he was a collaborator, a graphic designer, and a visionary whose influence permeated every corner of the festival. to honor his legacy, the festival team crafted a tribute that resonates deeply with his spirit.
A poignant performance, uploaded to Instagram in May 2024, has as been viewed over 1.5 million times. the video begins with Icelandic musician Olafur Arnolds softly playing the piano, silhouetted alongside cellist Kate Ellis (Crash Ensemble) and singer-songwriter Niamh Regan.As the music unfolds, an image of French is projected onto the curtains behind them, his voice echoing through the studio: “In the night we sang to storms, before the peace that breaks at dawn.”
Regan steps up to the mic, her voice harmonizing with French’s vocals, singing: “How did we doubt the evening sun? We didn’t know we were ready.” The song continues to build as more musicians join the stage, including Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds, pop superstar Dermot Kennedy, British indie folk duo the Staves, and French’s wife, steph—a moment that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Mary Hickson, the organizer of SFSH, recalls how French and Arnolds had briefly met in Iceland but never collaborated creatively until that week.“Something really magical happened between those two and the results of that will be heard in a duo record later this year,” she says.
The song’s creation began with French, Arnolds, Regan, and ambient musician Myles O’Reilly, before Ye vagabonds—diarmuid and Brían Mac Gloinn—added a harmony line. The following day, the musicians, filled with excitement, called Hickson into the room. She decided that 10 minutes later, they would perform the piece in the lobby of the River Lee Hotel.
“The reason for doing that, and the reason why we do that at the festival, especially when a song is in an early stage, it’s always interesting to see the choices that are made after they put it in front of an audience,” Hickson explains.
A clip of that performance, shot by videographer Peadar Ó Goill, captures the musicians wrapped around each other, circling Arnolds on the piano. Posted on Talos’s Instagram feed, it has become a testament to French’s enduring influence and the power of music to unite and heal.
This tribute to Eoin French is not just a celebration of his life but a reminder of the beauty he brought to the world. Through this performance, his voice, his vision, and his love for music continue to inspire, echoing the sentiment: “We didn’t know we were ready.”
The Emotional Journey of “We Didn’t Know We Were Ready”: A Song That Transcends Loss
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Music has a unique ability to heal, connect, and evoke emotions that words alone cannot. For the musicians behind the poignant track “We didn’t Know We Were Ready,” the song has become a powerful tribute to their late collaborator, Eoin French, and a source of comfort for fans grappling with his absence.
Originally penned as a reflection on the creative synergy shared among the artists, the song has since taken on a deeper, more profound meaning.”It still vrey much represents for me that time, that creative time that Eoin had with all of those people in the room,” says one of the collaborators, Hickson. “But now it has a whole other meaning, and it’s quite comforting, I think, for all of us, just to lean into the duality of it.”
The song first resonated with audiences during Ye Vagabonds’ Lighthouse Constellations event at Cork Opera House, part of the Sounds From a safe Harbour (SFSH) festival.Weeks later, it was performed again at Olafur Arnalds’ OPIA event in Berlin, featuring a different ensemble of singers. However, its most emotionally charged performance came less than a year later, at French’s funeral in connolly’s of Leap on August 12, 2024.
In early December, the song found its way to a national audience on . Louise Barker, a music PR working with SFSH, proposed the idea to the show’s guest booker. Hickson recalls the logistical challenges: ”The most crucial part of it was: Was Olafur free, and could he get to Dublin to do it?” Fortunately, Arnalds committed to the performance, and the team reunited the singers who had performed with French at the River Lee and in Berlin.
Reuniting for the first time since French’s passing was an emotional experience. Hickson describes the atmosphere: “It was the first time we were all together since Eoin passed. so there was a lot of trepidation when we stepped into the room to begin with, and we began straight into the work.” The weight of the moment was palpable.”I remember standing behind everyone going, ‘We need to do something before we sing,’ and it all obviously just fell apart. I called everyone together, and we had a group hug, took a minute, and acknowledged what we were in the room for.”
That moment of collective reflection allowed the group to channel their emotions into the performance. “it was really crucial to just stop for a second and take a breath as it’s really heavy emotionally for everybody,” Hickson adds. “And it was easier — not to say that it was easy — but it was easier then to move into the work.”
Today, “We Didn’t Know We Were Ready” stands as a testament to the enduring power of music to unite, heal, and honor those we’ve lost. Its journey from a creative collaboration to a heartfelt tribute underscores the profound impact of art in times of grief and celebration alike.
Celebrating Eoin French: A Tribute of Strength, Unity, and Music
In the world of music, few things are as powerful as the bond between artists and their shared experiences. For the team behind the acclaimed so Far, So Good (SFSH) festival, the loss of Eoin French, a beloved figure in the Irish music scene, was a profound moment of grief and reflection. Yet, amidst the sorrow, his legacy became a source of inspiration, uniting everyone in a celebration of his life and work.
“When we were in RTÉ, I had zero tolerance for sadness,” recalls one of the team members. “I was like, ‘Chin up, let’s get through this.’ And anytime someone was wavering, I’d pull them aside, look them in the eye, and ask, ‘What would Eoin say to you right now?’” The response was always the same: “Get your shit together and come on, do it for him.”
This mantra became a driving force for the team, who channeled their emotions into a heartfelt tribute. “It wasn’t an easy thing to do,” they admit. “The emotional intensity is certainly felt in the performance. It was as heavy as it feels, but also really lovely. We were so united in celebrating him.”
The tribute was not just a performance but a deeply personal experience. “It was a gorgeous experience,” they shared. “Power Pictures were so sensitive to what was going on for everybody. They were incredible to work with.” At the heart of it all was Steph French, Eoin’s wife, whose strength and presence became a cornerstone of the tribute. “The strength of her is immense. So it was beautiful to have her in the centre.”
As the SFSH festival prepares to return to Cork from September 11 to 14, the team has made it clear that honoring Eoin remains their top priority. “It’s gonna be the very first thing we do,” they explained. “We just couldn’t possibly do anything else until we have that done right. So the very first event will be for Eoin. Then we can step into the rest of it, but we certainly won’t be programming anything until we celebrate him.”
Artists to Watch at SFSH 2024
- Olafur Arnalds
- Niamh Regan
- Ye Vagabonds
- Jofridur Akadottir
- Kate Ellis
- sandrayati Fay
- Steph French
- Dermot Kennedy
- Laoise leahy
- Memorial
- The staves
- christof van der Ven
This year’s festival promises to be a poignant blend of music, memory, and celebration. With a lineup featuring some of the most talented artists in the industry, the event will not only pay homage to Eoin French but also showcase the resilience and creativity of the Irish music community. As the team behind SFSH puts it, “We’re here to celebrate, to remember, and to move forward—together.”
How did music serve as a tool for healing and remembrance in the tribute to Eoin French?
Weight of losing someone so integral to our community was immense. But we knew we had to honor him in a way that reflected his spirit and his love for music.”
The tribute to Eoin French took shape through performances, collaborations, and shared memories. His influence was palpable in every note played and every lyric sung. “Eoin had this incredible ability to bring people together,” says Mary Hickson, the organizer of SFSH. “He was a connector, a visionary, and his absence left a void that we’re still learning to navigate. But through music, we’ve found a way to keep his spirit alive.”
One of the most poignant moments came during the recording of We Didn’t Know We were Ready, a song that began as a creative experiment and evolved into a heartfelt homage. “It’s a song about connection,about the magic that happens when artists come together,” Hickson explains. “But now, it’s also a song about loss, about remembering, and about finding strength in each other.”
The tribute extended beyond the music itself. At French’s funeral, the room was filled with stories, laughter, and tears as friends and collaborators shared their memories. “It was a celebration of his life, of all the joy and beauty he brought into the world,” says one attendee. “and it was a reminder that even in the face of loss, we can find moments of light and connection.”
For the SFSH team,the journey of honoring Eoin French has been both challenging and cathartic.“It’s not just about mourning his loss,” Hickson reflects. “It’s about celebrating everything he stood for—his creativity, his kindness, his ability to bring people together. And it’s about carrying that forward, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire.”
Through music, the team has found a way to transform their grief into something beautiful. “eoin’s voice may be gone, but his vision lives on,” Hickson says. “And in that, there’s a kind of healing. We didn’t know we were ready to say goodbye, but through this process, we’ve found a way to keep him with us.”
The tribute to eoin French is a testament to the enduring power of music to unite, heal, and inspire. it’s a reminder that even in the face of loss,art has the ability to bring people together,to honor those we’ve loved,and to create something beautiful out of the pain. As the SFSH team continues to celebrate his life and work, they carry forward his legacy, ensuring that his voice, his vision, and his love for music will never be forgotten.
