A night of Inspiring Resilience and Irish Music

Last weekend, we were delighted to host our third event of the year. This time, we welcomed our community for a night of networking, inspiration, and music.

Once again partnering with BrewYo in the heart of Barra Funda, São Paulo, we were thrilled to see both familiar faces and new members.

Kieran Halpin, Co-Founder, Thronus Medical

Kicking off the evening was Canadian/Irish entrepreneur, Kieran Halpin. Having founded his first business at only 14 years old, Kieran now leads a high-growth, innovation-focused global medicinal cannabis business. Thronus Medical Inc., which he co-founded with his wife, Dr Mariana Maciel, is not just his latest venture, but also seemingly a very successful one.

His talk opened with personal reflections, drawing on his experience of being the son of an Irish immigrant and his own immigration journey to Brazil. Referencing elements of Irish history and his own perspective on contemporary Brazilian society, he argued for the importance of acknowledging national histories, however difficult, as a foundation for building the future.

It was a thought-provoking presentation that offered a personal perspective on entrepreneurship, identity, and social responsibility, framed through his own experience. And set the tone for an evening of passionate storytelling.

Claudio Crow & Eduardo Manzo

Claudio Crow followed, and armed only with an acoustic guitar, instantly wowed the crowd. Playing Irish classics like Dublin in the Rare Old Times, and even more modern surprises like Ireland’s Call, he had the room captivated from the first chord.

Midway through the set, Claudio was joined by fellow Finnian Eduardo Manzo on the fiddle, and as expected, the energy lifted the moment the jigs and reels kicked in.

It could have been intimidating playing to a mostly Irish crowd. But the pair, both Brazilian, carried it with ease, confidence, and deep respect for the music.  

They sounded like they had played a hundred sessions across Ireland, and as later I learned, that’s because they have. Claudio regularly travels to Ireland to lead Brazilian groups around the island, introducing them to the mythical landscapes and ancient stories he fell in love with years ago. The passion cuts straight through in their music.

It’s hard to leave a set like this without a few Irish tunes looping around in your mind. But it’s in the days after, when you find yourself revisiting The Dubliners, The Chieftains, or Phil Coulter, that you realise the true impact.

We can only imagine how good the full band sounds. Hopefully we won’t have to imagine for long.

It was another brilliant night for Irish Business Network Brazil. Keep an eye out for the next one, or get all the latest information to your inbox by signing up to our monthly newsletter here.