It seemed like a good idea and it certainly was judging the quality of the recording that was made at last year’s event. The idea is simple, invite the best session musicians from pubs all over Ireland to Clare in September, they are then let loose to play in the pubs so as to find the best session in the country.
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John Wynne and John McEvoy will launch their new CD ‘Pride of the West’ with a gig in Spell’s Pub, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon on Friday June 15th. The album draws on the immense flute and fiddle tradition of north Connacht and on the players’ Roscommon roots.
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Thomas Walsh will be forever remembered as the man who wrote “Inisheer”, the haunting if jaunty slow air. His latest work is what they used to call an EP, a two track CD with David Yeates where they play the song “New York for Paddy” and an instrumental track “Waltzing Through Dunboyne”.
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Yes Dervish didn’t exactly bring home the Eurovision bacon as we discuss in our European news, but if the pictures on the web site are a reflection of what went on they undoubtedly had a great time at the Eurovision song contest.
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Is music to ears of lunchtime concert fans

Now in its third year, the summer series will be held on each Wednesday over eleven weeks in Ennistymon, Kilrush, Ballyvaughan, Ennis and Sixmilebridge. The participating musicians are locally based and include Jerry Lynch, Sinead Heagney, Edel Fox, Tommy Peoples, Garry Shannon, Mick Conneely and Marin Glynn.
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The annual Summer School of Early Irish Harp will be held in Kilkenny from the 22nd-28th August with lectures and concerts as well as instrumental tuition from the world authorities on the instrument: Ann Heymann (USA), Javier Sáinz (Spain/Ireland) and Scoil Director, Siobhán Armstrong (Ireland). Organised by the Historical Harp Society of Ireland (HHSI), the Scoil is now in its fifth year and has become the premier international event for early Irish harp. This unique summer school attracts participants from as far afield as the USA, Italy and Japan.
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Skylark - All Of It

The band featured Gerry O’Connor, Garry O’ Briain, Len Graham, Eithne Ní Uallachain, Eiliah O’ Connor & Mairtín O’Connor. Each member of Skylark is acknowledged as a master of his art and this re-release on CD will allow the current generation of players to appreciate the artistry that Skylark brought to traditional music.
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The followers of the singing tradition were deeply saddened at the untimely death of Hugh Geraghty in early March. Hugh was a regular at the Clé Club in Liberty Hall. Besides being a leading trade unionist, he was also chairman of the Labour History Society. In acknowledgement of his contribution the coffin was draped with the original flag of the Plough and the Stars designed by playwright Sean O’Casey.
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Guitar player, John Bermingham has recently opened Croc an Oir at the foot of Sliabh Na mBán in Mullinanhone, the facility is beside the river Anner and is located in a 200 year old farmhouse.
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The Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music is offering two bursaries (value €600 each) to enable young musicians from counties Galway and Clare to attend Meitheal Residential Summer School in July 2007 in Limerick. The following conditions apply:
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