www.compassrecords.com

A five-piece traditional Irish band based in County Antrim, Beoga’s unique sound features the twin dueling accordions of Seán Óg Graham and Damian McKee, four-time All-Ireland bodhrán champion Eamon Murray, pianist Liam Bradley, and one of Ireland’s premier young singers, Niamh Dunne. Beoga’s repertoire of fresh self-penned tunes, original covers, and inventive arrangements mark them as one of the most exciting acts to emerge from Ireland in recent years.

Beoga are very tight-lipped about the title of their third album, The Incident. “We are willing to disclose that the so-called ‘incident’ did occur on the road in 2008…perhaps I’ve said too much,” bodhrán player Eamon Murray says with a wink. So much of what makes up The Incident, both in title and in musical delivery, truly captures the essence of Beoga, a self-described “trad band on anabolic steroids.”
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www.seamusbegleyandjimmurray.ie

Legendary Irish accordion player and singer Seamus Begley and guitar virtuoso Jim Murray are about to embark on a nationwide tour with their new album. Ếirí Go Lá (Up Until Dawn) is the duo’s long-awaited follow up to their acclaimed debut album Ragairne which won both Hot Press Magazine and Irish Times “Traditional Irish Album of the Year”.
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Temple Bar TradFest 28 January – 1 February 2009
www.templebartrad.com

From pipe bands to sean-nós, soft lullabies to rip-roaring Celtic beats, even African rhythms to fusion and jazz, once again Temple Bar TradFest offers a world of music within the very walkable confines of Dublin’s cultural quarter. With an eclectic line-up more far ranging and diverse than any in TradFest’s four year history, music lovers can choose between iconic acts like Paddy, Seamus and Kevin Glackin, the towering quartet of Maighread Ní Dhomhnail, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Moya Brennan or the sensational US based act Solas. And that’s just the headline concerts.
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Ardara, Donegal, September 25th-27th, 2009
www.ardarafestivals.com

A great weekend of Music, Song & Dance. Something for everyone, Workshops, Pub sessions, Ceilís with Emerald Ceilí Band, World Famous Tirconnail Ceilí Band from Glasgow and Barn Dances with Cascade. If that is not enough we have the Gala Concert on Saturday the 26th of September with the award winning band Cherish The Ladies. It will be a great weekend for all, especially if you know the infamous Joanie Madden who always guarantees a good time.
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19th-26th July, 2009, Rostrevor, Co.Down
www.fiddlersgreenfestival.co.uk

The Fiddler’s Green Festival began 23 years ago as a one day event and now extends to eight days and seven nights of music, culture with craic. With over 100 events the festival caters for music lovers, families who wish to enjoy a safe, child focused festival and those who come to soak up the scenery, the friendliness, ans the free out door music.
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Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim
July 18th-25th, 2009

Yet again, a full programme of workshops will be offered in flute, fiddle, banjo, bodhrán, whistle, mandolin, concertina, button accordion, piano accordion, harp and uilleann pipes. These workshops are presented professionally by musicians of the highest calibre.
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Villiers School, Limerick
July 13th - 17th, 2009
www.tradweek.ie

A stellar cohort of tutors is being lined up, many of them from overseas and composer Michael Rooney will prepare the orchestral score. The reaction to Meitheal 2008 was extremely positive and many students highlight the Finale Concert, the Ceilí House programme and the appearance at the National Concert Hall as being unforgettable experiences. Many of the award winners have already played at the events for which they were chosen. Oisín Morrison has completed an Irish tour with CCE, Billy O Brien and the group Dún Suas have played the National Concert Hall and Alan Reid & James Harvey appeared at the Ennis Trad Fest. Meanwhile, Courtney Cullen, Kavan Donohoe and Gavin Strappe are preparing for their festival gigs in the Spring.

Full Meitheal 2009 tutor list to be published in the next edition.

July 12th-18th, 2009 Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo
www.sssschool.org

Situated at the foot of the Ox Mountains in the heart of South Sligo and surrounded by pockets of traditional music going back generations, Tubbercurry is the perfect location for this annual summer school where participants have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the music, song and dance of South Sligo and beyond over six days of tuition, concerts and recitals, céilís, lectures and workshops, all featuring tutors, lecturers, musicians and céilí bands of the highest calibre. Think of tune titles such as ‘The Killavil Jig’, ‘The Mountain Road’, ‘The Moving Bogs of Powelsboro’ or ‘The Chaffpool Post’, all places in and around Tubbercurry or again of tunes like ‘Jackie Coleman’s’, ‘Fred Finn’s Reel’, ‘Andy McGann’s’ and ‘Jim Donoghue’s’, just a few of the great musicians who were native to the area, many of whom left a legacy of tunes of their own composition in their wake. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what is a deep, rich tradition and one which all those involved in the South Sligo Summer School set out to celebrate, breathe new life into and help preserve each year.
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July 12th-18th, 2009
www.east-durham.org

The Catskills Irish Arts Week celebrates its 15th year in East Durham, New York next summer from July 12-18th, 2009. The largest summer school in North America devoted to traditional Irish music and dance runs classes in a variety of instruments, singing, sean nos and set dancing (Tony Ryan is the dancing master this summer) and Irish step dancing plus some crafts classes. It features daily topical lectures, concerts, ceilithe and sessions galore every night around the area. The week closes with the Andy McGann Irish Music Festival.
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May 15th-17th, 2009
Islands and the Waters Between
www.galwayearlymusic.com

Once again Galway Early Music Festival is inviting Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music lovers to visit Galway and enjoy a weekend of exciting concerts, inspiring workshops with world-famous musicians, enjoyable free events for adults and children, and the friendly, relaxed atmosphere of the post-concert festival club.
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