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Irish Examiner

Cork musician launches mobile home and gig space for artists facing housing crisis

Cork musician Áine Duffy has converted a trailer into a mobile microhome and gig space to help fellow artists amid housing crisis pressure on accommodation. Many musicians are now prevented from touring due to the costs of accommodation and the ever-shrinking number of gig venues. The new Duffbox is insulated, has a flushable toilet, a solar-powered shower, cooking facilities, a sink, pullout bed and a generator. Picture: David Creedon But her 'Duffbox' will allow musicians and artists to overcome this problem and bring their music across Ireland again. Her original Duffbox – a donkey box she converted into a mobile, outdoor gig venue during the covid pandemic - allowed her to tour her album when venues shut during international lockdowns and socializing was only permitted outdoors. And the success of that project along with the problems she was seeing musicians face daily in the housing crisis inspired her plan for the second Duffbox which will primarily provide accommodation to musicians. The new Duffbox is insulated, has a flushable toilet, a solar-powered shower, cooking facilities, a sink, pullout bed and a generator. It also has a small dropdown stage where DJs can perform gigs with their equipment powered by the onboard generator. She chose a single axle trailer so that anyone with a basic driving licence could tow it. Áine Duffy: 'I hope the Duffbox can give people hope. It can even be used as a retreat, where people can go away somewhere quiet and focus on writing.' Picture: David Creedon 'It's been converted into a microhome,' Mr Duffy said. 'Transferring insurance from a campervan between people would be more difficult, but a single axle trailer can be driven by anyone." Ms Duffy presents the show Blás on Over the West Online Radio which highlights Irish musical talent of all genres. Despite its high quality, Irish-made music often receives very little airplay and many of the artists rarely gig, she said. 'There is so much talent in Ireland but most of it is hidden," Ms Duffy said. 'And it is so hard to make a living. 'But Irish musicians are really class. I'm so proud of them. There's such a difference in quality when someone makes music for art rather than just for money. 'I hope the Duffbox can give people hope. It can even be used as a retreat, where people can go away somewhere quiet and focus on writing. 'Music is part of our culture. It's part of Ireland's story. It's part of the craic, a reason tourists come here. The Duffbox can bring artists to [remote] places like Bere Island and Allihies [in West Cork]. It can be brought for DJs to use at weddings. And small venues can borrow the Duffbox, they can be really struggling too and we need to keep them alive. Hotels are so expensive now and places like greenrooms in venues where musicians could have stayed before are now often converted into something more financially lucrative so there is often nowhere for musicians to stay, she said. 'And long hours driving after a gig are dangerous." Ms Duffy, who was almost a victim of the housing crisis herself, built a tiny passive home outside Bandon, skills from which she has used in the Duffbox. 'People come in and say how big it feels, but in reality it is very small,' she said. 'But I love it and there's space for everything. A robin even comes in every morning when I open the door." Ms Duffy recently released a new single, Rooting for You which she wrote from her self-built microhome in West Cork. Áine Duffy recently released a new single, 'Rooting for You' which she wrote from her self-built microhome in West Cork. Picture: David Creedon "I wrote Rooting for You touching on a vulnerable place, when you are rooting for someone, and can only hope they are rooting for you back," Ms Duffy said. "Especially when you are really trying! I hope it's an audio hug for the listener and I intend it to be comforting in these uncertain times. Hugs, I'm rooting for you." The Duffbox will be available to artists this summer. To cover costs, it will be €50 per night. Ms Duffy has compiled a list of places across the country where it can be brought for performances outdoors and to small venues. Read More Cork musician uses transformed donkey box to entertain children in direct provision