September Sessions 2011 in Louisburgh, Co Mayo

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND ALL WELCOME….

An Bhun Abhainn, Louisburgh, County Mayo

9th, 10th & 11th of September, 2011

The September Sessions is an annual family weekend of Irish Traditional Music which takes place in An Bhun Abhainn pub, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo. Now in it’s seventh year, this mini festival has seen a wide range of traditional musicians from Mayo and further afield gather in the beautiful surroundings of Louisburgh.

Although focusing on quality Irish music this year we will be getting out and about around Louisburgh with a free gig in the town-hall on Friday night with the Dartry Ceili Band (All Ireland Champions in 2009) and a foraging afternoon on Saturday for kids and adults too.

Watching the kids come along so well over the years has been wonderful to watch and this year we will continue to focus on sessions for both the young ones and the teens. We have our trusty band of merry musicians as usual in the pub throughout the weekend joined by guests.

All events are free and we look forward to welcoming you to Louisburgh

Core Musicians: Emer Mayock (flute), John Kilkenny (fiddle), Philip Duffy (fiddle), Declan Courell (guitar)

Guest Musicians 2011:  Ciaran Somers (flute) & Dave Sheridan (fiddle)

Friday Night – 9th

Town Hall – Dartry Ceili Band with support from Mike Bartlett – Doors 7.45pm. Followed by Session in the bar from 9.30pm

Saturday Afternoon – 10th

Foraging afternoon with Will Williams. Spending a couple of hours around Old Head foraging for mushrooms and exploring nature. Starting at 11am.

Followed by kids session at 2pm. (Beach or Town-Hall – dependent on weather)

Afternoon session in the pub from 5pm

Saturday Night

Session in the bar from 9.30 til late

Sunday Afternoon – 11th

Teen Session from 2pm followed by music from the core musicians.

Sunday Night

Finishing off the weekend with old-timey and bluegrass songs with Tim Rogers and his band, The Clew Bay Critters

For more on the September Sessions

www.facebook.com/anbhunabhainn

www.anbhunabhainn.com

Bantry, Co Cork
Tuesday 9 August

19.30 Ceolchoirm / St. Brendans Church, Bantry

Martin Hayes [fiddle]
Dennis Cahill [guitar]

Michelle O’Sullivan [concertina]

The Begley Family

Tickets
Category 1: €29.00 / Category 2: €20.00 / Category 3: €13.00

Wednesday 10 August

19.30 Ceolchoirm / St. Brendans Church, Bantry

Steve Cooney [guitar]

Mick O’Brien [uilleann pipes]

Jimmy Crowley [singer]

Tickets
Category 1: €29.00 / Category 2: €20.00 / Category 3: €13.00

Thursday 11 August

19.30 Ceolchoirm / St. Brendans Church, Bantry

A Concert of New Compositions for Traditional Musicians
This concert programme is a new collaboration between composer Dave Flynn and four exceptional traditional musicians. The works all receive world premieres at the 2011 Masters of Tradition Festival.

Mick O’Brien [uilleann pipes]

Harry Bradley [flute, whistle]

Aoife O’Brien [fiddle]

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh [fiddle, hardanger fiddle, whistle]

‘The Valley of the Lunatics’ (2010) for detuned ‘Bb’ fiddle, retuned hardanger fiddle and pre-recorded sound collage – 13-15 mins
Performed by Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
‘Études for Uilleann Pipes’ (2009) – 20-25 mins
Performed by Mick O’Brien
Interval
‘The Longest Reel’ (2009) for solo fiddle – 8 mins
Performed by Aoife Ní Bhríain
‘The Forest of Ornaments’ (2010) for Irish flutes, fifes, shakuhachi, fujara and pre-recorded sound collage -11 mins
Performed by Harry Bradley
‘Le Chéile is in Aonar’ (2010) for traditional music ensemble – 2 fiddles, 2 flutes, 3 tin whistles and uilleann pipes – 20-25 mins
Performed by Harry Bradley (flute and tin whistle). Aoife Ní Bhríain (fiddle), Caoímhín Ó Raghallaigh (fiddle and tin whistle) and Mick Ó Brien (uilleann pipes, flute and tin whistle.

Tickets
Category 1: €29.00 / Category 2: €20.00 / Category 3: €13.00

Project Funded by Arts Council of Ireland’s Deis Scheme for the Traditional Arts and Galway County Council’s music bursary scheme

Click here to read programme notes by Dave Flynn

Friday 12 August

16.30 The Ebb and Flow of Irish Traditional Music – Ireland and America with Brendan Dolan / Maritime Hotel

A must for all followers of Irish traditional music.This lecture traces the influences that have helped shape traditional music as we know it today on both sides of the Atlantic. Topics will include the music brought to America by Irish immigrants in the 1800s,
American music collectors, the influence of American 78s and the trans-Atlantic interactions of more recent generations of traditional players. The presentation will feature audio clips and images from the Mick Moloney Irish-American Music and Popular Culture Collection at the Tamiment Library, New York University.

Tickets
€5.00 each

19.30 Ceolchoirm / Bantry House

Máire Ní Cheillachair [singer]

Charlie Harris [button accordion]
Eamonn Cotter [flute]
Geraldine Cotter [concertina]

Tony Linane [fiddle]
Kevin Crawford [flute]
Mick Conneely [bouzouki]

Tickets
Category 1: €29.00 / Category 2: €20.00 / Category 3: €13.00

22.30 Níos Deanaí / Bantry House

Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill [singer]
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill [singer]

Tickets
€15.00 each

Saturday 13 August

19.30 Ceolchoirm / Bantry House

John Flanagan [singer]

Brian Conway [fiddle]
Brendan Dolan [piano]

Susan McKeown [singer]
Donogh Hennessy [guitar]
José Manuel Neto [ portuguese guitar]

Tickets
Category 1: €29.00 / Category 2: €20.00 / Category 3: €13.00

22.30 Níos Deanaí / Bantry House

Birken Tree [pipes, fiddle and flute]
with Martin Hayes & Denis Cahill

Tickets
€15 each

Sunday 14 August

19.30 Ceolchoirm / Bantry House

Martin Hayes [fiddle], Dennis Cahill [guitar]
with Susan McKeown [singer], Birkin Tree & Steve Cooney [guitar]

Tickets
Category 1: €32.00 / Category 2: €22.00 / Category 3: €14.00

TELEPHONE / IN-PERSON BOOKING OPENS 11 JULY AT 10:30AM – ONLINE BOOKING NOW OPEN

Festival Pass available – Covers all Concerts & Lecture.

Category 1 Festival Pass: €190
Category 2 Festival Pass: €145
Category 3 Festival Pass: €100

Note: Festival Passes must be booked through Box Office. This offer is not available online.
Box Office: +353 (0)27 52788 / West Cork Music 13 Glengarriff Road, Bantry, Co. Cork.

Ballina Set Dancing Weekend

Innisfree Céilí Band

Friday 4th – Sunday 6th March @ Downhill House Hotel

Friday 4th March: Country & Western Workshop 8-10pm
COPPERPLATE CEILI BAND 10pm

Staurday 5th March: Workshop with Ger Butler 11am-1pm & 2-3pm
Mass 3.30pm
Country & Western with
THE DUETS 5-7.30pm
ANNALY CEILI BAND 10pm

Sunday 6th March: Workshop with Marie Garrity 11am-1pm
INNISFREE CEILI BAND 2-5pm
Country & Western with
MICHEAL SEXTON 7-9.30pm

Full weekend events ticket €45

The Gathering, Killarney

Karol Lynch & Tóla Custy of Guidewires

See here for full details including ceilis, workshops & sessions >>>

Thursday 3rd March  2011

TBC

Friday 4th March 2011

Shaskeen / Noel Hill, Alec Finn & Tony Linnane / Sean Potts & Sean óg Potts – €20 Tickets on sale HERE

Saturday 5th March 2011

Saturday Lunch Concert

Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch, Paul De Grae & Fidil – €15

Saturday Night Concert

De Dannan / Paddy, Seamus & Kevin Glaken / John & Pip Murphy  – €20 Tickets on sale HERE

Sunday 6th March 2011

SCATTERING CONCERT

Guidewires, Brian McGrath, John Carty & Brian Rooney + More – €20 Tickets on Sale HERE

Junctions – New Traditional Music Encounters

“Junctions – New Traditional Music Encounters” is a series of concerts taking place in the Pavilion in Cork City featuring collaborations between some great traditional musicians from around the world.

The first concert takes place on the 7th April and will feature:
- Chris Wood & Andy Cutting
- Michael McGoldrick & Ed Boyd
- Karan Casey & Dónal Lunny
- Buille featuring Niall Vallely, Caoimhín Vallely and Brian Morrissey
- DJ Dolphin Boy

Tickets on sale 1st March from tickets.ie

Other confirmed dates in 2011 are:
5th May
16th June

“Junctions – New Traditional Music Encounters” is produced by Niall and Caoimhín Vallely, and is part-funded by the Arts Council’s Deis scheme.

7th Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh

PIC: Ceoltóirí Eithne Ní Chatháin, agus Aoife agus Deirdre Grainbhéal

Full details >>>

Céadaoin 23 Feabhra 2011

8pm Oscailt Oifigiúil Official Opening
An Músaem, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Oscailt Oifigiúil le Liam Ó Maonlaí. Ceol & amhráin. Bí ann gan teip!
Deis clárú dos na ranganna ar fáil.
Official opening with Liam Ó Maonlaí. All welcome. Registration for classes opens.

10pm Oíche amhránaíochta Singers night
Tigh Uí Chatháin, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh,
Oíche amhránaíochta. Aoinna speisialta Cathal McConnell & Nell Ní Chróinín
Fáilte roimh amhránaithe agus éisteoirí.
Singers night with special guests Cathal McConnell & Nell Ní Chróinín. Singers & listeners welcome.

Déardaoin 24 Feabhra 2011

9.00am Clárú Registration
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Clárú dos na ranganna go léir
Registration for all classes
€50 for 3 days

10am-1pm Ranganna Classes
Ionaid éagsúla, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Ranganna sna huirlisí éagsúla & amhránaíocht.
Classes in various locations in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh.

10.15am – 11.30am Ciorcal Comhrá Gaoluinne Informal Irish Conversation Group
Óstán Ceann Sibéal, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Canúint Chorca Dhuibhne, le Domhnall Mac Síthigh.
In the Corca Dhuibhne dialect, with Domhnall Mac Síthigh.
€15 for 3 days

2pm Seisiún Oscailte Open Session
Tigh Uí Mhurchú, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh

3pm Tionól Píobaireachta Pipers Gathering
Tigh Bhric, An Riasc
Le Con Durham, Cillian Ó Briain, Tomás Ó Canainn, Eoin Duignan, Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh, Páidí Casnove, Ailean Domhnallach, Tommy & Pádraic Keane

8pm Oíche Sheán de hÓra
Brú na Gráige
Ceiliúradh ar an amhránaí Seán de hÓra
Le Liam P. Ó Murchú
Costas €5

Aoine 25 Feabhra 2011

10am-1pm Ranganna Classes

10.15am – 11.30am Ciorcal Comhrá Gaoluinne Informal Irish Conversation Group
Óstán Ceann Sibéal, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh

2pm – 3pm Rang Gáidhlig le Ailean Domhnallach
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Feiliúnach do thosnaitheoirí

3pm Tráthnóna Ceoil Recital
Tigh Bhric, An Riasc, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Vincent, Jimmy & Peter Campbell

4pm – 5.30pm Ranganna Máistreachta Masterclasses
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Consairtín – Claire Keville
Bosca Ceoil – Jackie Daly
Costas: €10

5.30pm Seoladh Coiglímis an Tine (Leabhar + 2 CD)
Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Cnuasach Seanchais agus Scéalta Bhab Feiritéar (Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne)
Bo Almqvist and Roibeard Ó Cathasaigh a chóirigh agus a chuir in eagar.
Fáilte roimh chách Everyone welcome

8pm Ceolchoirm Concert
Ionad an Bhlascaoid, Dún Chaoin
Ceol agus amhránaíocht as Éirinn is Albain le Griogair Labhruidh, Kathleen McInnes, Ailean Domhnallach, Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich, Cathal McConnell, Tommy & Pádraic Keane, agus ceoltóirí agus amhránaithe eile.
Ticéid: €10

Satharn 26 Feabhra 2011

10am-12pm Ranganna Classes

10.15am – 11.30am Ciorcal Comhrá Gaoluinne Informal Irish Conversation Group
Óstán Ceann Sibéal, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh

12.30pm Ceolchoirm na nDaltaí Pupils Concert
Sáipéal Naomh Uinseann, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Ceolchoirm na ndaltaí leis na foghlaimeoirí go léir & aíonna speisialta.
Informal concert in the Church with the pupils and special guests.

2pm – 3pm Rang Gáidhlig le Ailean Domhnallach
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Feiliúnach do thosaitheoirí
Costas: €5

2.30pm – 5.30pm Ceardlann rince ar an sean nós Sean nós dance workshop
Seanscoil an Chuasa, An Bóthar, Cuas an Bhodaigh
Le Róisín Ní Mhainín.
Costas €15

3pm – 4.30pm Ranganna Máistreachta Masterclasses
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Veidhlín – Jimmy & Vincent Campbell
Feadóg Stán – Cathal McConnell
Costas: €10

3pm Siúlóid Guided Walk
Le Domhnall Mac Síthigh. Ag fágaint ó charr chlós Photadóireacht na Caolóige (3km siar ó Bhaile an Fheirt). Bíodh éadaí & bróga oiriúnacha oraibh.
Leaving from car park at Louis Mulcahy’s pottery (3km west of Ballyferriter). Please wear suitable clothing and footwear.

3pm Tráthnóna Amhránaíochta & Ceoil Music and Song
Tigh an tSaorsaigh, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Leis na Caipíní & aoinna eile.
With Na Caipíní and other guests.

4.00 – 5.30pm Ceardlann Amhránaíochta Gáidhlig Gáidhlig Singing Workshop
Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh
Le Griogair Labhruidh & Kathleen MacInnes
Fáilte roimh chách Everyone welcome
Costas: €5.00

8pm Ceolchoirm Concert
Halla na Feothanaí, Feothanach
Vincent Jimmy & Peter Campbell, Jackie Daly & Matt Cranitch, Ben Ó Loinsigh, Eithne & Micheál Ó Catháin, Tomás, Niamh & Nuala Ó Canainn, Claire Keville, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
Ticéid: €12.50

Domhnach 27 Feabhra 2011

10am Aifreann na Féile Mass
Sáipéal Naomh Uinseann, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Aifreann Uí Riada le Peadar Ó Riada & Cór Chúil Aodha

10.45am Maidin Chaifé Coffee Morning
An Múséam, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Ar son Ospidéal na Leanaí, Croimhghlinn
In aid of Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin

1pm Ceol agus Seiteanna Music and Sets
Óstán Ceann Sibéal, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh
Ceol le Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich srl!!!!

Dervish + Tommy Peoples at Ballincollig

The Ballincollig Winter Music Festival takes place on the last weekend of January each year. With world-class headline concerts, traditional music sessions, classes and much more….

TOMMY PEOPLES, living legend of Irish music will play the Ballincollig Winter Music Festival this Thursday night, 27th January at 8.30 pm!

DERVISH play The Ballincollig Winter Music Festival this Friday night, 28th January at 8.30 pm!

Celtic Connections lives up to name

Irish mini-festival Sligo Live is to curate its own night at the annual Celtic Connections event, which is currently taking place in Glasgow. Young trad band Téada, who have already headlined several world-music festivals, will be joined by Sligo trad-fusion act Túcan and rock trio The Unwanted. (From Irish Times >>>)

Brendan Power & Tim Edey + Jackie Daly & Matt Cranitch

Friday 28th January @ the Button Factory.

PLUS

Dessie O’Halloran, Cunningham Sean Nós Dancers, Mary Bergin & Paul de Grae

The Button Factory

Tickets online: €24.99 (booking fee included)
Box Office in Temple Bar Hotel: €22.49 (no admission fee)

Friday the 28th of January will bring together the best in established Irish traditional music talent. 4 incredibly talented soloists Brendan Power & Tim Edey, Jackie Daly & Matt Cranitch come together as two duets to create an exceptional night of Irish music.
Website: www.edeyandpower.com

They will be joined by the hugely popular and talented Cunningham Family Sean Nós Dancers from Connemara. ‘Outstanding’, ‘really entertaining’ and ‘everyone should see this show’, were just three of the comments following a recent sell out Cunningham performance at The Town Hall Theatre in Galway.

Legendary balladeer Dessie O’Halloran, who sings with the Cunningham Family in their show Fuaim Chonamara joins them on stage in the Button Factory. “When he sings in the pub and even when it’s just him, everybody takes notice,” Sharon Shannon told the Irish Times. “Desmond’s voice is rugged and totally unaffected.”

Mary Bergin is an Irishfolk musician who is widely acknowledged as one of the great masters of the tin whistle. She plays in both the Irish traditional and Baroque styles. Mary will be on stage together with Paul de Grae, a Dublin-born guitarist (and occasional singer), living in Kerry for many years. He has a particular interest in the music of Sliabh Luachra, plays regularly at sessions, concerts and festivals throughout Ireland (particularly in Kerry, Cork and Clare) and teaches guitar workshops in Ireland and the USA.

Altan, Eddi Reader & Friends @ Temple Bar Trad Fest

Wednesday the 26th January @ 8 pm

Christ Church Cathedral
Tickets online: €25.99 (including booking fee)
Box Office in Temple Bar Hotel: €23.49 (no admission fee)

Beoga and Ciorras @ the Button Factory

Thursday the 27th of January @ 8 pm

The Button Factory
Tickets online: €19.99 (including booking fee)
Box Office in Temple Bar Hotel: €17.49 (no admission fee)

Blurb:

BEOGA will  take to the stage in the Button Factory. Guaranteed to live up to their name- the Irish word for ‘lively’ the band from county Antrim were drawn together in 2002 after ‘jamming’ in a ferocious session at the all-Ireland Fleadh. Since then BEOGA has expanded the vocabulary of Irish music with a unique accent of their own blending bluesy riffs with jazz and pop beats producing melodious traditional music played to some of the most imaginative and contemporary accompaniment in Irish music today.
Wall Street Journal dubs them “the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century.”
“Individually talented and collectively inspired, this is a quartet who speak a language called music with a fluency beloved of the best multi-linguists” (Siobhan Long Irish Times January 2005)
The release of Beoga’s 2009 album ‘The Incident’ (which was shortlisted for a Grammy award) has seen the supergroup continue to blaze a pioneering trail, rewarding fans with their fresh creative energy and seducing a diverse array of music lovers. Their performance during the Tradfest will have every toe tapping in the house and add depth to an already eclectic mix during the festival.

The TradFest will continue its role as providing a platform for showcasing the best in up-coming Irish talent as on the same night the Button Factory will play host to Ciorras. Hailed as ‘a modern  Bothy band’, Ciorras bring a contemporary approach to traditional music. Ciorras were formed as a band earlier this year when the individual members were among a large number of young musicians who featured in the hit TG4 series, Lorg Lunny. These 8 young musicians were invited by Irish music legend Dónal Lunny to create a new band with a fresh, new unique sound in traditional music. With an impressive assortment of instruments between them including fiddle, concertina, pipes, piano accordion, keyboards, percussion, low-whistles, voice and no less than 4 exceptional flute players, the possibilities are endless as demonstrated in their choice of repertoire woven among imaginative and original arrangements and played with an energy and enthusiasm that showcases the phenomenal playing ability and musicality of these outstanding young musicians.

Ennis Trad Festival 2010

The 17th Annual Ennis Trad Festival will take place this year from Thursday 11 to Monday 15, November 2010.

The Ennis Trad Festival is a festival for those who love to hear (or play) Irish Traditional music of the highest quality in its most natural setting. The festival brings together the very best of Irish traditional musicians, singers and dancers in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

Over 30 venues host selected exponents of the music, carefully mixed and matched to ensure an exciting variety of sessions. Spotlight concerts each night (Thursday to Monday) feature internationally renowned artists. There are many other events too, including CD launches, recitals, instrument and singing masterclasses, a spectacular céilí band competition with audience voting and set-dancing céilís. It all happens over a (very) long weekend in Ennis, the capital of Ireland’s premier music county, Clare.
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The headline acts this year are Cathal Hayden, Máirtín O’Connor, Seamie O’Dowd and Jimmy Higgins, Any Old Time, The Dave Munnelly Band, The Brock McGuire Band with special guest Noel Battle. Monday night’s festival finale concert will feature Charlie Harris, Maeve Donnelly, Eamonn and Geraldine Cotter.
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This year’s festival will feature the 4th Annual Ard Ghaisce na mBuíonta Senior Céilí Band Competition, with substantial cash prizes! This popular event pits the nation’s best Céilí Bands against each other in a friendly Battle Royale. The winners are chosen by a combination of audience voting and a panel of expert adjudicators who are screened to prevent them seeing the competitors, or knowing their identity during the competition.
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The masterclasses provide an excellent opportunity to those who wish to improve their musical skills with some of traditional music’s most accomplished tutors. Class sizes will be limited to ensure each individual student benefits fully from the workshop in the development of technique, style and repertoire.

Programme:

Thursday
6.30pm     Festival launch with Pat Costelloe       Free
7.30pm     CD launch – Ciorras     Temple Gate Hotel     Free
From 9.30pm     Session trail     Various venues     Free
11.30pm     Any Old Time (Mick Daly, Dave Hennessey, Matt Crannitch)     Queen’s Hotel front bar     €15

Friday
7pm     CD launch with Dave Sheridan     Queen’s Hotel front bar     Free
7.30pm     West Wind presenters’ concert in association with Clare Fm     Glór     €20
10pm     Session trail     Various venues     Free
Midnight     Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden, Seamie O’Dowd & Jimmy Higgins.     Auburn Lodge Hotel     €20

Saturday
11am     Workshops in various instruments     Rice College CBS, New Road, Ennis       €25
4pm     Talk and demonstration on behalf of Willy Simmons of his new flute and whistles by Jon Dodd.     TBC     Free
7pm     Ard Ghaisce Na mBuíonta (senior céilí band competition).     Glór     €15
10pm     Session trail     Various venues     Free
Midnight     Concert with The Dave Munnelly Band (ticket also covers trad disco with Ollie Mullooly)     Auburn Lodge Hotel     €20
Midnight     Trad disco with Ollie Mullooly (ticket also covers The Dave Munnelly Band)     Auburn Lodge Hotel     €20

Sunday
1pm     CD launch with Eoin O’Neill, Kevin Griffin and Quentin Cooper     Temple Gate Hotel     Free
Afternoon     Session trail     Various venues     Free
4pm     Céilí with the Abbey Céilí Band     Cois na hAbhna     €10
7pm     CD launch with Stevie Dunne, banjo     Temple Gate Hotel     Free
10pm     Concert with The Brock McGuire Band with special guest Noel Battle     The Old Ground Hotel     €15

Monday
Afternoon     Farewell sessions     Various venues     Free
11.30pm     Concert with Charlie Harris, Maeve Donnelly, Geraldine and Eamonn Cotter (ticket also covers Shuckin’ and Jivin’)    Queen’s Hotel front bar     €15
Late     Shuckin’ and Jivin’ with DJ Andrew McNamara (ticket also covers Concert with Charlie Harris, Maeve Donnelly, Geraldine and Eamonn Cotter)     Queen’s Hotel front bar     €15

Des Carty Sessions 2010

This year sees the 7th annual Des Carty Sessions, with events taking place in Saggart, Rathcoole, Celbridge and Tallaght. The week’s events kick off on Wednesday 20th October with the regular Man of the House Session hosted by Tom Moran taking place in The Poitín Stil, Rathcoole. Tom will be joined by special guests Ed Harper and Mick Mullen.

Informal sessions will again remain an integral part of the festival from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th in the designated Festival Club at St Mary’s GAA Club, Saggart from 10pm til late. Thursday 21st sees the official opening recital and festival launch at 8pm in Celbridge Library with music from singer Seán Garvey and The Niall Toner Band. Earlier that day there will be a recital by local musicians and festival guests for staff and participants in the Four Districts Day Care Centre, Rathcoole.

Fiddle player and collector Máire Garvey passed away in 2009, and a celebration of her life and work will be held in Citywest Hotel, Saggart, on Friday 22nd at 8pm, with music from friends and family, including contributions from Josephine Keegan, Mick Shannon and Liam O’Connor.

On Saturday afternoon there will be recitals by local musicians in Tallaght Hospital. That night Sessions regular Rick Epping (harmonica, concertina, vocals) returns for an evening of American and Irish music and song in St Mary’s GAA Club, Saggart. He will be joined on the evening by renowned musician Seamie O’Dowd (guitar, fiddle, harmonica, vocals) and Dubliner Liam Kennedy on mandolin and fiddle. Rick and Seamie form two-thirds of the trio The Unwanted. Along with Dervish singer Cathy Jordan, their album Music Of The Atlantic Fringe was selected by Hot Press as one of the top ten albums of 2009.

Sunday 24th opens with workshops by Ed Deane (guitar) and Gerry O’Connor (fiddle) in Saggart Heritage and Arts Centre from 1.30 – 6pm. Sunday afternoon also offers the ever popular céilí at 3pm in St Mary’s GAA Club, Saggart. Later that night the main concert takes place in the same venue and promises to afford an evening of great entertainment. Performers will include Charlie Piggott, widely regarded as one of the most influential accordian players in the country; Ed Deane, regular fixture on the Irish blues scene, on acoustic blues and slide guitar; Gerry O’Connor on fiddle, songs by Fintan Vallely, Peter Browne on uilleann pipes and Pauline Fayne, poet. Finbar Boyle will be MC on the evening.

Monday 25th will see the Ragpickers’ Ball Session, the final session of the festival featuring many of the week’s performers playing alongside local musicians. This will take place in St Mary’s GAA Club, Saggart.

Full Schedule:

IMRAM 2010 Events include: Mo Hat Mo Gheansaí, Colm Ó Snodaigh, Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola, Common Tongue, Dairena Ní Chinnéide & Steve Cooney,

Muintir Uí Chonaola

Friday 17 September 8.00pm (door 7.00pm)
The Cobblestone (The Back Room), 77 North King Street (Smithfield LUAS stop)
Admission €10

Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola has been praised by Hot Press for her ‘cool, airy voice and effortless style’. Reviewing his début album, The Love Token, Seán Laffey praised MacDara’s ‘command of the text of the songs and his ability to give them life within what is essentially a non-traditional format. Poet and novelist Dara Ó Conaola’s extraordinary work includes the bilingual fantasy classic Misiún ar Muir/Sea Mission, Night Ructions (launched at the Hay-on Wye festival, 1992), Mo Chathair Ghríobháin, An Gaiscíoch Beag and Cor in Aghaidh an Chaim, works in which the oral tradition is reworked in startling modern language. Dara Beag is the much-loved ‘people’s poet’ of Inis Meáin, and is the author of Cloch na bhFaoileán.

Mo Hat Mo Gheansaí, Colm Ó Snodaigh, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill

Saturday 18 September 8.00pm (doras 7.30pm)
Aras na Scríbhneoirí/Irish Writers Centre, 19 Parnell Square
Admission €10

Mo Hat Mo Gheansaí
Colm Ó Snodaigh
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill

Mo Hat Mo Gheansaí comprises brothers Tadhg and Óisín Walsh-Peelo. Between them they play piano, guitar, violin, harp, and drums. Their songs include ‘Ní Tú Mo Ghrá’, ‘Uair Sna Naoi Uair’, and hugely entertaining Irish language renditions of pop hits. Colm Ó Snodaigh of Kíla has long admired Máirtín Ó Direáin, and tonight he débuts some of his hypnotic song versions of Ó Direáin’s poems, part of a major work-in-progress. ‘I’d listen to it late at night when I couldn’t sleep; it was quite extraordinary to hear this in the middle of the Anatolian night, Ó Direáin intoning faoiseamh a gheobhadsa, seal beag gairid’ – so does Nuala Ní Dhomhaill describe the profound impact Máirtín Ó Direáin’s poetry had on her whilst she was living in Turkey. Tonight she will read and talk about her favourite Ó Direáin poems.

Common Tongue, Deirdre Brennan, Proinsias Mac a’Bhaird & Nuala Reilly

Thursday 23 September 8.00pm (door 7.30pm)

Ionad an Phiarsaigh, Institiúid na hÉireann, 27 Pearse Street
Admission €10

Common Tongue
Deirdre Brennan
Proinsias Mac a’Bhaird
Nuala Reilly

Common Tongue fuse sean-nós singing, improvising saxophone and live electronics. The trio comprise singer Lorcán Mac Mathúna, acclaimed as ‘an astonishing new voice’ by Songlines; improvising saxophonist Cathal Roche and composer Ian Wilson. Deirdre Brennan’s latest bilingual collection Swimming with Pelicans: Ag Eiltilt fara Condair explores memory, war, dispossession. Proinsias Mac a’Bhaird’s poetry is marked by his natural ease of expression in poems that touch on the magical within the everyday. In Magus Ballyrath, Nuala Reilly weaves the shadows of history with her own experience.

MC Muipéid & Jimmy the Hideous Penguin, Dairena Ní Chinnéide & Steve Cooney, Peadar Ó hUallaigh

Saturday 25 September 8.00pm (door 7.00pm)
The Cobblestone, 77 North King Street (Smithfield Luas Stop)
Admission €10

MC Muipéid & Jimmy The Hideous Penguin
Dairena Ní Chinnéide & Steve Cooney
Peadar Ó hUallaigh

Jimmy the Hideous Penguin’s music melds sultry bass and slow burning ambient tracks, richly orchestrated with organic instrumentation – a mesmeric backdrop for MC Mupéid’s witty rapping. Dairena Ní Chinnéide is an incantatory presence. Tonight she will be joined by guitar supremo Steve Cooney, and perform new poems in Irish and English, including ‘Retro Irish’, a major work exploring the world of the Irish speaker in 21st century Ireland. Peadar Ó hUallaigh’s Tír Tairngre, winner of the 2010 Rupert and Eithne Strong Award, is the most potent début in Irish for some years. Utterly visionary, he is a poet unafraid to take a lyrical voyage to the lands of Avalon. An accomplished traditional musician, Peadar will also play on the flute tonight.

Léamh agus Ceol

William Kennedy Piping Festival

The 17th William Kennedy International Piping Festival, organised by the Armagh Pipers Club, this November 11-14 includes the following acts across the weekend: Armagh Pipers Club; Barry Kerr & Ryan O’Donnell; Breabach (Scotland); Brendan Ring, Niall Keegan & Gerry McKee; Bruce Campbell; Canntaireachd; Cran; Diarmaid & Donncha Moynihan and Friends; Dr Angus MacDonald (Scotland); Edelmiro Fernández (Galicia); Eoin Ó Riabhaigh & Conal Ó Gráda; Georgi Makris (Greece); Goat System (France); Griff Trio (Belgium); Ioscaid; Ivan Goff; John McSherry Band; Jonathan Greenlees; Julie Fowlis & Eamon Doorley (Scotland/Ireland); Kevin & Ellen Mitchell (Ireland/Scotland); Lorcán Mac Mathúna and Friends; Michael O’Connell; Mikie Smyth; Millish (USA); Niall Vallely; Réalta; Roncos do Diabo (Portugal); St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band; Stjepan Večković (Croatia); Tommy Keane & Jacqueline McCarthy; Zephyrus (England).

Book tickets here >>>

Des Carty Sessions 2010

Des Carty Sessions 2010. Wednesday 20th -Monday 25th October. Featuring Tom Moran, Ed Harper, The Niall Toner Band, Sean Garvey, Josephine Keegan, Mick, Liam & Donal O’Connor, Dan Healy, Mick Shannon, Rick Epping, Seamie O’Dowd, Liam Kennedy, Charlie Piggott, Ed Deane, Peter Browne, Gerry O’Connor, Fintan Vallely, Pauline Fayne, Pat Good, Jimmy Cahill , Dave Cassidy, Tadhg O’Sullivan and Noel Kennedy.

Music festival based in Rathcoole & Saggart, south county Dublin that features the best of Irish music as well as celebrated musicians from around the world.

Visit the Alt Ents website >>>

Tony Lavery Fleadh in Lurgan, Co Armagh

17th, 18th & 19th September.

We’re awaiting more details, but we see Fidil is featured.

Music under the Mountains @ Hollywood

The line up for this year’s Music Under The Mountain festival in Hollywood, Co Wicklow has just been confirmed. All are welcome to visit Hollywood – just an hour from Dublin on the N81, and this festival always manages to have a great atmosphere both in Tutty’s & the Hollywood Inn, facing each other, and out on the road in between.

Friday 24^th

9.00 pm Hollywood Inn

Alyth McCormack (vocal) & Triona Marshall (harp)

Saturday 25^th

10.30 am Hollywood Inn

Workshops with Michelle O’Brien (fiddle), Peter Browne (accordion) & Gavin Whelan (whistle)

2.00 pm Hollywood Inn

Gavin Whelan Band

3.00 pm Tutty’s

Session led by Steve Larkin (fiddle), Kevin Rowsome (pipes) & Mick Kinsella (harmonica)

9.00 pm Hollywood Inn

Josephine Marsh (accordion) & Mick Kinsella (harmonica)

Sunday 26^th

12.30 pm Tutty’s

Singing session hosted by Phil Callery

8.00 pm Tutty’s

Michelle O’Brien (fiddle), Peter Browne (accordion) & Eugene Quinn (guitar & banjo)

All Set For 4th Annual Tulla Festival

The 4th Annual Tulla Traditional Music Festival will take place this weekend, 10th to 12th September 2010.

The line up has recently been confirmed and this year’s special guest is Seamus Tansey. Seamus is one of the most colourful musicians in the traditional Irish music scene today, a native of Sligo he is a wonderful flute player who has influenced a whole generation of musicians. He has also published two books “ The Bardic Apostles of Innisfree 1999 “and “ The Bardic Apostles of Innisfree Continued 2005”. (Clare Herald) >>>

Lettermore Trad Fest

Lettermore Trad Fest is a celebration of traditional music, song and dance. We have a great line up for this year and would love to see you all there! The festival will include many pub sessions, master classes on accordion, fiddle, flute/whistle and sean nos dancing, a beginner/intermediate session for the kids involved in the classes and any others that would like to join in and loads of craic! Lettermore Trad Fest will also include a main concert on Saturday the 25th. If you want to check out last years line up look under past events or info. The Schedule of this years event can be found under the photo tab on the top of The “Lettermore Trad Fest Page.

Those of you looking for accommodation,