Matt Molloy’s flute heading into space

Nasa astronaut Catherine Coleman. Photograph: Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters

American Nasa astronaut Catherine “Cady” Coleman, who blasts off today from Kazakhstan for a six-month stint on the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting the Earth, will be bringing Matt Molloy’s flute with her.

“We had done a concert and as always we had a tune afterwards with local musicians,” said the Westport-based musician. “It transpired she played the flute and we have been friends ever since.”

On a previous trip into space, she packed his Shadows on Stone CD in her space suit. “Cady told me: ‘Your music always brings me to a special place, so I thought I’d bring yours to one’. I was really moved,” said Molloy. “She told me she was going to be heading there for six months and asked me if I had a flute that she could play while on the station.” While joking that his response may have been “a moment of weakness”, Molloy gave her one of his most prized possessions, his E-flat flute, which he played on his first solo album made with Dónal Lunny in 1976. (Irish Times) >>>

Chieftains to play mini Irish tour

[From Times>>>>] The tour will feature original members Paddy Moloney, Matt Molloy, Seán Keane and Kevin Conneff, but will also feature guest performers from around the world including Ottowa Valley Dancers Jon and Nathan Pilatzke, New York-based champion Irish dancer Cara Butler, eight string guitarist Redmond O’Toole, harpist Triona Marshall and guest singer Yvonne Mc Mahon-Tiernan.

Limerick University on the 17th of November, Cappoquin Community Centre on the 20th, the Mermaid Theatre in Bray on the 21st and the Tullamore Court Hotel on Wednesday 24th November.

The Chieftains play Barretstown

A very worthy fundraising concert for the Barretstown charity (“rebuilding lives affected by childhood cancer”) is to take place on Tuesday November 24th coming at Barretstown Castle near Ballymore Eustace, headlined by The Chieftains and supported by local band, Arc.

Tickets are only €40 for a night of world-class music & entertainment, starting at 7.30 pm and including wine reception and post-concert nibblies.