Cobh Singer is indeed ‘Simply The Best’

Rebecca O’Connor as Tina Turner ‘Simply The Best’ at the Sonia O’Sullivan statue fundraising night in the Commodore Hotel, Cobh on Sunday night. Photo: Mike Bardsley

As far as ‘Tribute Acts’ go, this will go down as one of the best ever. Those who attended the Sonia O’Sullivan statue fundraising event at the Commodore Hotel on Sunday night witnessed all the glamour, dazzle, glittering mini dresses, stiletto heels and music of a Tina Turner gig itself. With iconic hits like Nutbush City, Proud Mary and Simply The Best, this performance by Cobh’s Rebecca O’Connor as legendary singer Tina Turner must definitely go down as one of the best ever seen by her hometown people.

Rebecca O’Connor as Tina Turner ‘Simply The Best’ at the Sonia O’Sullivan statue fundraising night in the Commodore Hotel, Cobh on Sunday night. Photo: Mike Bardsley

As Tina Turner said after video footage of Rebecca made it’s was to her managers desk a few years ago, “Rebecca is so good, she`s scary. If I had her energy, I would still be touring today.” She certainly wasn’t wrong!!!!

From start to finish the atmosphere that filled the Jack Doyle room was nothing short of electric and when Rebecca took to the stage, on the night of her 40th birthday, the entire sell-out 450 seat venue erupted into rapturous applause as she kicked-off with the erotically acclaimed ‘Steamy Windows’.

Rebecca O’Connor as Tina Turner ‘Simply The Best’ at the Sonia O’Sullivan statue fundraising night in the Commodore Hotel, Cobh on Sunday night. Photo: Mike Bardsley

Speaking with Chairperson of Cobh Tourism Hendrick Verwey who’s team brought this event together to raise funds for a statue of another Cobh legend, athlete Sonia O’Sullivan he told me ‘Cobh Tourism are absolutely delighted to have been a part of this event and having Rebecca O’Connor perform for us in her hometown is absolutely fantastic.’

‘Such was the demand for tickets that they were sold out in just under a week and in the lead up to tonight’s concert, our local Facebook page ‘Cobh Edition Discussion Group’ was inundated with requests from people looking for tickets. This will be our last fundraiser for the statue and we are on schedule to unveil the Sonia statue in Cobh on September 20th. I would just like to thank Rebecca for this amazing night of entertainment, our opening act Studio 206 and a big thank you to all who supported it. Our thanks also to Pat O’Shea of the Commodore Hotel and Dan Noonan and crew of D2K for the sound and lighting,’ he continued.

The opening act, Studio 206, are talented musicians studying with the Academy of Popular Music. From Cobh and Cork they performed some fantastic covers versions during their forty-five minute set. One in particular was their rendition of the 1978 Police hit Roxanne sung by local girl Alison Ronayne, which at the end of their performance was requested by the crowd again. Keep and eye out for this band as we’ll no doubt be hearing from them again.

In the words of Mick Fleetwood of the legendary Fleetwood Mac ‘This show is way beyond a tribute act. Rebecca is an amazing performer and vocalist. I was mesmerised. A night you’ll never forget’…………He wasn’t wrong!!!!!!!!!!!

Rebecca O’Connor as Tina Turner ‘Simply The Best’ at the Sonia O’Sullivan statue fundraising night in the Commodore Hotel, Cobh on Sunday night. Photo: Mike Bardsley