The World Bodhrán Championships in Milltown, County Kerry is inviting bodhrán players from around the world to take part in the competitions at the festival in June which will seek to find the best players in the world. The organisers are offering a prize money package of €2,500 for the winners with specially commissioned trophies worth €1,000 being presented to the best performers.

The festival, which is being hosted in the mid-Kerry town for the second time from 1st to 4th June, 2007 will feature concerts, workshops, street sessions song and dance but the centrepiece will be the competitions to find the best bodhrán players in the world. In 2006, Neill Lyons from Dublin was crowned Senior Champion and Colm Phelan from Portlaoise was Junior Champion.

This year, the Bodhrán Championships is introducing two new categories. An under-14 category is being introduced for younger players and a solo competition for unaccompanied performers is also being staged for the first time. The latter is open to all age groups and will be a stand alone part of the competitions. The adjudicators for the competitions will be a panel of renowned bodhran players and the competitions will take place on 2nd and 3rd June in Milltown. The senior winner will be awarded €1,000 and a specially commissioned trophy.

Entry forms and more information are available from +353 (0)66 9765601 or www.worldbodhranchampionships.com