Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland

The Sunday Independent presents Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland with The White Horse Guitar Club, Rubyhorse, Jodavino and Aoibheann Carey-Philpott.

A Night for David Gaffney

On Thursday March 19th 2026, musicians, friends and supporters will gather in The White Horse in Ballincollig for a special night of music as part of the Rock Against Homelessness campaign. The evening also marks the month’s mind of a much loved Cork man, David Gaffney, whose generosity, kindness and quiet determination to help others left a deep mark on the city.

Dave was one of those rare people who believed that if something needed doing, you simply rolled up your sleeves and made it happen. Over the years he organised countless fundraisers and charity events, often bringing musicians together for causes that were bigger than any ordinary gig.

One of the most memorable was a major fundraising concert he organised at the Cork Opera House, where bands close to his heart, including Rubyhorse and the White Horse Guitar Club, came together to play. On another occasion, when war broke out in Ukraine, Dave again rallied musicians and organised a charity night in Cork that raised funds for the Red Cross. The effort went far beyond the concert itself. An ambulance packed with medical supplies was driven from Cork all the way to Ukraine, an extraordinary act of solidarity at a time of real crisis.

After David passed away on February 19th 2026, the same musicians he had so often rallied together gathered again, this time to sing him out. Members of Rubyhorse, the White Horse Guitar Club, along with Aoibheann Carey Philpott, stood shoulder to shoulder at his funeral, sending their friend on his way in the best language they know, music. It was a moving and fitting tribute to a man who had spent much of his life persuading musicians to lend their voices to people in need.

Beyond music, David’s sense of service ran through every part of his life. As a solicitor he often took on difficult cases simply because he believed justice should not depend on someone’s ability to pay. Many people who crossed his path discovered that the bill never arrived. Helping people was never a transaction for David. It was simply who he was.

That same spirit of service, justice and fairness lies behind the night of music on March 19th. At a time when homelessness has become one of the most urgent social issues facing Ireland, the concert will raise funds for Focus Ireland, whose work supports individuals and families experiencing homelessness across the country.

In many ways it reflects the kind of causes David himself would have quietly stepped forward to support.

The night will feature performances from Rubyhorse, the White Horse Guitar Club, Jodavino, and Aoibheann Carey Philpott.

The evening will be a little different from a typical concert. Artists will perform some of their best known songs before joining together on stage for shared versions of songs that have become part of the collective soundtrack of their lives.

It promises to be an evening built around friendship, memory and the power of music to bring people together.

“David believed music should be useful,” said Joe Philpott. “If there was a cause that needed a hand, he was usually the one making the phone calls and bringing people together.”

On March 19th, the musicians he loved will gather once again, not just to remember him, but to continue the work he cared about most.