May 1st-4th, 2009
www.cupoftaefestival.com

2009’s Cup of Tae will see the festival honour one of Donegal’s truely great fiddle players James Bryne (An Beirneach). The committee contacted James in August 2008 and he was humbled and honoured to be recognised by the committee and was looking forward to the event. Indeed James was organising the opening concert and intended inviting friends and musicians that he admired to the concert in his honour. Sadly James passed away before Christmas 2008.
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April 30th-May 4th, 2009 Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
www.feilenandeise.com

The 14th Annual Guinness Féile na nDéise takes place again this year in Dungarvan, Co Waterford over the May Bank Holiday weekend, beginning on Thursday April 30th with the Official Opening by our Festival Patron, An tUsail Micheál O’Muircheartaigh followed by concert with Brendan Shine in Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre. The rest of the weekend sees the Guinness Music Trail in various Pubs around the town, Open Air Concerts, Street Pageant – re-enacting the The Burgery Ambush, Busking Junior & Adult Competitions, Ceile, Concert with Blackwater Band on Sunday May 3rd in Dungarvan Town Hall Theatre and the now famous “Bucket Singing Competition” on Bank Holiday Monday in Downey’s Bar. With a visiting French Market, award winning Restaurants, excellent accommodation, Bar Extensions, Dungarvan is the place to be this May Bank Holiday Weekend.

For further information visit: www.feilenandeise.com
or Tel: 058-45273/086-2523729.

Saturday April 4th, 2009, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
www.ceardlannearraigh.com

Workshops in music, song and dance come no better than in ‘Ceardlann Earraigh’, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, in this its twelfth consecutive year. Established by the Kildare County Board of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, this year’s event takes place on Saturday April 4th, 2009.
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www.colemanirishmusic.com

The most exciting and innovative news on the Irish music scene is the opening in April 2009 of the brand new, up to the minute exhibition and information unit at Ceoláras Coleman, Gurteen, Co. Sligo. In this purpose built facility, there are listening posts, display boards and a stunning audio-visual presentation. The latter presents a history of traditional Irish music and musical instruments dating back to the very origin of both. A unique display on eye-catching boards and in display cases provide the visitor with facts and history and the benefits of extensive research and archive details.
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Féile Ealaíon Chontae an Chabhán
March 11th-18th, 2009
www.cavanmusic.com

The word “nyah” refers to the very expression of the tradition to its lift or “soul”. Over 300 artists from 18 countries will descend on the Breffni county from March 11th - 18th to take part in a packed programme of events across the county, ranging from major concerts to intimate pub sessions, with a host of extras including music and song workshops, awards presentations and book and CD launches. The Nyah spreads across the county, with towns like Virginia, Ballyjamesduff, Belturbet, and Swanlinbar all having a share of the action, as well as Cavan town itself.

Ramor Theatre Virginia, Saturday 14th, Jig of Life awards to Peter Horan, Johnny Connolly, Kathleen & Michael McGlynn, Brian & Eithne Vallely, Mattie Joe Shéamuis Ó Fatharta, Joe Burke & Ann Conroy, Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin and Len Graham.

The Nyah Arts Festival Programme 2009 is subsidised by the Arts Council, Cavan Co Council Arts Office & Fáilte Ireland. The Nyah acknowledges its grateful thanks for this support and all those others who have provided generous support over the years.

For further information visit www.myspace.com/nyahcavan
and www.cavanmusic.com

www.comhaltas.ie/events/detail/comhaltas_tour_of_britain_20091

For audiences in the UK, the Echoes of Erin tours provide a fantastic showcase for all that is best in Irish traditional music, song and dance. This concert in Monkstown, Co. Dublin, displays the highly talented artistes as they premiere the exciting concert prepared for audiences in Britain during the last week in February 2009.

A selection of fifteen top-class performers in all fields has been assembled to display the highest standards and regional styles that have become synonymous with these events through the years.
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www.danu.net

Irish-based fans can catch the lads live in Dungarvan in February before they head out on a St. Patrick’s month-long tour of the USA. Danú have announced a special concert as part of a great series in Donnchadh Gough’s Pub in Dungarvan.

The pub is called The Local and is situated in the heart of the old town in County Waterford. The concert will take place on Tuesday, 10th February, 2009.

www.guidewiresmusic.com

‘Guidewires’ are: Tola Custy on fiddle, Sylvain Barou (from Brittany) on flutes, Paul McSherry on guitar and Karol Lynch on bouzouki, with Padraig Rynne on concertina. After being, “Flooded with emails and questions from people that have seen us live and people within the music circle asking us more about the band and when our album will be released,” Padraig explained to IMM. Well the good news is that they are recording a live album in Glór at the beginning of February, probably the 8th/9th February; the exact dates were still under negotiation as we went to press, but you can check with the venue. The concert is free and the band would like a huge audience to add to the live ambience of the album, which will be out in early summer.
More at: www.guidewiresmusic.com www.myspace.com/guidewires or Telephone: +353 86 6054449 and
Email: liosbeg@padraigrynne.com

www.nos-ur.eu

The 2009 Nós Úr competition is attracting interest from Shetland at the very north of the UK to Brittany in France, and many points in between. The deadline for submissions is drawing near so if you are a singer/songwriter with a passion for minority languages, don’t miss an opportunity to perform at this year’s regional final in Inverness, Scotland.
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Mary McPartlan and Susan McKeown receive public kudos
www.irishphiladelphia.com

The Irish Philadelphia website was full of praise for performances by Mary McPartlan and Susan McKeown (accompanied by Irish guitarist, Aidan Brennan), who sang separately and together on the stage at the Irish Center in Philadelphia on January 10th. The web review stated: “McKeown, who won a Grammy for her work with the New York-based klezmer group, The Klezmatics, performed an eclectic mix of Yiddish and Irish tunes along with her own inspired songs. McPartlan, whose voice has been compared to that of Dolores Keane, did several sean-nós and unaccompanied traditional songs. The two women and Brennan sang one song together in tight, gorgeous harmony.”