www.trocaire.org/trad

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, world renowned fiddle player with traditional music giants Altan, is urging traditional music groups and musicians across Ulster to lend their support to a new fundraising venture for overseas development agency Trócaire.

“This new idea for raising funds for Trócaire’s vital work is called ‘Trad for Trócaire’ and it basically asks traditional musicians to organise a trad session in support of the charity,” said Mairéad who has recorded with Enya, the Chieftains and Dolly Parton during her career. “I love the idea of the traditional music community here at home doing something to help those who are less well off than us and I have no doubt this will receive terrific support.”

Trócaire has teamed up with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann to run the new national fundraising initiative in September. Comhaltas is at the forefront of the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music and has hundreds of local branches.

“We are asking musicians, venue owners and the general public to get involved,” said Mairéad. “Put on a session in your venue or your own home, come out and play no matter what your instrument or go along and support a session – no matter where you are in Ulster between the 23th and 29th of September there’ll be a ‘Trad for Trócaire’ session taking place near you!”

“It’s really easy to get involved. Log on to www.trocaire.org/trad to order your information pack or register your event. I would encourage everyone to support this venture. Let’s raise the roof and raise money for a fantastic cause at the same time!” Mairéad concluded.

presents
Damien Dempsey
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH , 2010

**Tickets go on sale THIS FRIDAY 20 August**

€28 including booking fee from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide
Tel 0818719300 & online at www.ticketmaster.ie

Dublin’s newest live music venue, The Workman’s Club, at 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2, are delighted to welcome Dublin’s favourite singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey, for a very special show on Wednesday September 15th. Damien will play this one off intimate club date to celebrate the opening of The Workman’s Club. Damien is currently recording his new album and this will be a rare opportunity for fans to catch him up close and personal, performing in what should be the perfect setting for an original working class Dubliner. Support on the night will be from Eoin Glackin. Tickets for this event are priced at €28 including booking fee and will be available from 9am this Friday, August 20th from the usual Ticketmaster outlets.
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www.secretgarden.no

Available from stores nationwide, to download from iTunes
and to order on CD from www.IrishMusicShop.ie

This September, one of Ireland’s most successful musicians, Fionnuala Sherry, releases her debut solo album. Entitled “Songs From Before” the album features an enchanting collection of some of Ireland’s most cherished and recognisable melodies. On the concept of the album Fionnuala says “for a long time I have wanted to record some of the beautiful traditional Irish songs that I grew up with. This year the dream became a reality!”.
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www.festival-interceltique.com

Record Numbers

800,000 visitors attended this year’s edition of the Lorient Interceltic Festival, representing a 20 - 25% increase on last year’s numbers. Attendance was up on all of the festival venues in the city centre : the Quai de la Bretagne, the Interceltic Market, the Pavillion of the Celtic Nations, the Book Quay and the Village Solidaire. The numbers of tickets sold was also up on previous years with 115,000 tickets sold for the various concerts and shows on offer this year.
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www.sligolive.ie
Presents
REPUBLIC OF LOOSE
More acts announced in the coming weeks
Thursday, 21st – Monday, 25th October 2010
TICKETS ON SALE NOW

REPUBLIC OF LOOSE needs no introduction. Their albums receive rave reviews. Their concerts all sell out. They have supported the World’s biggest band U2 and of course Snow Patrol. They have performed with artists such as Sex Pistol Steve Jones and Sinead O’Connor. Sligo Live Sessions are delighted to present REPUBLIC OF LOOSE live in Concert on Sunday, 24th October 2010 at The Clarence Festival Club, Sligo.

In keeping with Sligo Live Sessions’ policy of offering top value music at very realistic prices, a limited number of Weekend Tickets to all festival performances and events which takes place on October Bank Holiday Weekend are on sale at the amazing early bird value of €75.00 per ticket.
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www.fleadh2010.ie
Final celebration concert to be recorded on DVD

End of Fleadh Monday (23rd August), 8pm–10.30pm, Cavan Town Hall Fleadh Club

“When the going gets tough, the GREAT ones party!”
That’s what Garfield said anyway, and it’s what the folks in Cavan are saying too — they reckon they’ll have earned themselves a right oul’ celebration by the time the Fleadh finishes up.
All the hard work will have been done and dusted by the time the dedicated local trad musicians and their friends take to the stage at Cavan’s Town Hall Fleadh Club for a big wrap-up show at 8 o’clock on Monday 23rd August.

Sponsored by Northern Sound Radio and the Farnham Arms Hotel, the celebration concert will also be recorded on DVD, as a special Fleadh 2010 memento.
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www.thegathering.ie

Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney
March 2nd – 6th 2011

The craic agus ceoil of The Gathering Traditional Festival is being beamed across the world via the web this month. Footage recorded at the 2010 festival can be viewed at www.thegathering.ie

“The atmosphere of The Gathering is second to none and it really has to be seen and heard to be believed,” explains Festival Chairman, John O’Shea.
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www.comhaltas.ie

Comhaltas Annual Scoil Éigse to take place in Cavan as the town prepares for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s 38th Annual Scoil Éigse takes place in Cavan Town from 15th-20th August 2010. Scoil Éigse, CCÉ’s international Summer School plays a very important part in educating, nurturing and encouraging our cultural traditions and is open to students and the general public who have an interest in witnessing Irish traditional music at its most vibrant. The project proves a huge draw for younger students and also for international tourists who can immerse themselves in Irish culture while also learning some basic musical skills at this initiative which is the most comprehensive of its kind in the country.
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Presents
A Special Evening With
Two Sligo All Ireland Champion Céilí Bands

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

What do you get when you put two Champion Céilí bands into an Award-winning Night Club? - one of the best night’s craic ever and it certainly puts an end to the old ham sandwich and tea image of Céilís in the past . That’s just what Sligo Live Sessions have done. The Velvet Rooms in Sligo has won Top Irish Nightclub for the past 3 years running. Sligo Live Sessions are delighted announce another first with the festival hosting a late night Céilí with The Innisfree Céilí Band and The Dartry Céilí Band in Sligo’s award winning Night club taking trad into previously unimagined territory.
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www.peadaroriada.ie

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta presenter, musician and composer Peadar Ó Riada has initiated a competition on his radio programme Cuireadh chun Ceoil to find the best traditional Irish fiddler.  The winner will receive a gold medal, Bonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada, named in honour of Peadar’s father Seán Ó Riada, and will be announced at a gala concert in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork in December.

Ó Riada’s weekly music programme Cuireadh chun Ceoil broadcasts on Friday nights on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta during the summer and has a high proportion of listeners based outside the country.  The competition is intended to bring the family of listeners together, using the benefits of technology, something which Peadar feels has created a great democracy within music.
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