E8 Cara Dillon: Coming Home

Internationally renowned, award-winning folk singer Cara Dillon, one of Ireland’s most cherished musical talents, joins us for a special performance combining music, songs, poems and readings from her debut book, Coming Home.

Dillon takes us on a journey through her upbringing, her cultural heritage, and the profound influences that have shaped her artistic vision. She skillfully navigates the intricate tapestry of family, tradition, and community that have defined her.

Cara Dillon is renowned worldwide for her original take on traditional Irish song, defying genre norms and earning both commercial success and critical acclaim.

Raised in County Derry, Cara’s  musical journey began with winning the All Ireland Singing Trophy at just 14. At 19 Cara was signed to Warners by A&R legend Geoff Travis (Rough Trade Records) in a band alongside her future husband and musical partner, Sam Lakeman. In 2001, Geoff Travis fell in love with a simple folk album that Cara and Sam had been working on and decided to release it on his newly re-acquired label Rough Trade. The album, Cara Dillon became one of the biggest selling folk records of the decade, and was critically acclaimed in the music press for being inspirational, energising and evocative. She has  won countless awards and accolades including Album Of The Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, The Meteor Music Award for Best Irish Female, and Tatler’s Woman Of The Year in Music, and has appeared in prestigious concert halls and at festivals the world over.