…musical evenings hosted by Gael Linn

O’FLAHERTY’S BAR ( downstairs), OLD STOREHOUSE,
CROWN ALLEY, TEMPLE BAR
( behind the Central Bank )
6p.m. – 8p.m. ( Doors open 5.45 p.m.)

TUESDAY, 24 MARCH 2015
From the renowned Dublin musical family
LIAM O’CONNOR ( Fiddle) &
AOIFE O’CONNOR ( Concertina )
in the company of multi-instrumentalist from London,
JOHN BLAKE ( Flute/Guitar)
A great night’s music promised !

ADMISSION: €15 ( includes complimentary nibbles!)

Bar open/tea and coffee available
Booking essential ( limited space ! )
087/2547574 or niamh@gael-linn.ie

www.rte.ie/rnag

A Boston brother and sister are among the 15 traditional musicians who will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal on 6 February in Cork.  The final will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta at 7 pm, presented by Peadar Ó Riada.

Heather Cole-Mullen and Adam Cole-Mullen will be among the 15 fiddlers who will take to the stage to vie for the specially designed gold medal, and a cash prize of €2000.  Heather is living in Mayo, but Adam will be one of five musicians travelling from the US to Cork for the final, and they will be joined by fiddlers from Kerry, Armagh, Dublin, Leitrim, Tipperary and Waterford.
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March 14th, 2015
www.MusicCityIrishFest.com

Nashville, TN is Sister City to Belfast, Northern Ireland and that needs to be celebrated – and what better time of the year than St. Patrick’s Day? So this year Nashville is throwing a party in a big way and starting an annual festival to celebrate Irish music, dance, sport, culture and travel. Past St. Patrick’s Days in Music City have made national headline news with the pranking of the Musica Statue, the 40 foot statue of 9 naked people dancing on the iconic Music Row Roundabout. The Willis Clan pulled the shenanigans by sewing kilts and blouses and clothing the nude figures during the middle of the night. The city awakened to the most epic prank that had ever been pulled south of the Mason–Dixon line.
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March 20th – 23rd, 2015

www.inishowensinging.ie

The Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle is looking forward to welcoming song enthusiasts to Ballyliffin/Clonmany for a 4–day feast of traditional singing, March 20th – 23rd, 2015. This year the programme rather than focusing on a specific theme, is bringing together a range of projects and some new focus points for the weekend. Again they will feature local songs and singers with members of the Singing Circle taking part as guests. Colm Toland will open on Friday night with an audiovisual presentation The Wrecks of Inishowen, telling the maritime history of the peninsula through the legacy of song.
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March 25th – 29th, 2015

www.carrickmacross.ie and www.comhaltas.ie

Since 2007 Comhaltas have organised a traditional music festival in honour of the 19th century harper Patrick Byrne Held annually on the Palm Sunday weekend the féile takes place in and around Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan.

Topping the bill this year are Goitse, Live Ireland’s ‘Trad group of the Year for 2015’. The band have been exciting audiences all over the globe with their creative, high energy performances and their concert on Saturday March 28th promises to be a real treat for traditional music fans. The festival will open with a recital by Zoë Conway and John McIntyre on Wednesday March25th. Described by the BBC as “simply one of the best folk duos on the planet”, the pair will give an intimate performance in the atmospheric setting of St. Finbarr’s Church, Carrickmacross.

There will be a strong local flavour to this year’s féile with musicians from the Our Dear Dark Mountain recording project performing in the Community Centre, Corduff, Carrickmacross on Friday March 27th. The brain child of Téada’s Seán McElwain, this CD brought to light long forgotten music from the Sliabh Beagh area of Monaghan and Fermanagh. As well as Seán the concert will feature TG4 Gradam Ceoil winner Dónal McCague among others in performing music from the album. Along with the concerts, there will be workshops, a session trail, a sets céilí with Rise The Dust, an art master class and workshop plus heritage events.

Details are available on the websites www.carrickmacross.ie, www.comhaltas.ie and Facebook.

May 1st – 4th, 2015
www.cupoftaefestival.com

May Bank Holiday Weekend – Ardara, Co. Donegal.

The fourteenth “Cup of Tae” Festival takes place this May Bank Holiday weekend in Ardara, Co. Donegal. This is quite a unique festival and if you haven’t been there it is a must you go this year.  Considered by many to be the greatest wee festival in Ireland it has all the qualities of an All Ireland Oireachtas without the competition. The musicians are there, the fun is there. The spontaneity is there and most events are free. The festival is in memory of one of the country’s most famous fiddle players, John “the tae” Gallagher, and each year the committee honour a prominent musician or musicians in his memory. This year popular Crossroads fiddle player Frank Kelly and champion solo singer Rita Gallagher are the honoured guests. The opening event of the festival in a special concert to honour this year’s guests Frank and Rita. This concert is organised with the honoured guests’ friends coming along and performing this special concert, and this is a must if you are attending the Festival.
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May 14th – 17th, 2015

www.galwayearlymusic.com

The theme of the 20th Galway Early Music Festival, Time, highlights many different angles and sub–themes of time – the cycle of the seasons, the monastic hours, the ages of man, and the terror of the end of the world – all in the context of the rhythm, tactus and pulse of musical time.
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July 12th – 18th, 2015,
www.sssschool.org

The 29th South Sligo Summer School of Traditional Music, Song & Dance takes place in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, from July 12th to 18th, 2015. Instruments taught include fiddle, flute, tin whistle, harp, uilleann pipes, concertina, button accordion, banjo, traditional guitar and bodhrán. Afternoon masterclasses and beginner/improver sessions are added features again this year, having proven highly successful last year. Singing workshops are offered in traditional singing in English and Sean Nós singing as Gaeilge. Lilting is also a feature of the singing classes during the week. Dancers are catered for with set dancing classes each morning and sean nós dancing classes each afternoon.
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July 13th – 17th, 2015

www.ceolnacoille.ie

Reeling them in at Ceol na Coille!

The Ceol na Coille Summer School in Letterkenny, County Donegal, has been a fast developer on the trad scene over the past four years and is expecting another big hike in numbers in 2015.

Running from Monday July 13th to Friday July 17th, Ceol na Coille is tucked in nicely between Willie Week and Drumshanbo. Accordionist and piper Paul Harrigan, the main organiser, says they’re putting together a big programme of classes, concerts and sessions this year. “We’ve got a wonderful base in the new Coláiste Ailigh in Letterkenny, perfect as our HQ for a great week’s music, song and fun,” he said.
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July 12th – 18th, 2015

www.catskillsirishartsweek.org

The Catskills Irish Arts Week, in East Durham, NY, presented by The MJ Quill Irish Cultural and Sports Centre, will celebrate its 21st anniversary this July. This charming village will echo the strains of Irish music, song, dance and story, mingled with the lively banter so characteristic of all such Irish gatherings. Set in the scenic Catskill Mountains of Greene County, New York just two hours north of New York city, East Durham is no stranger to these festivities as it has been home to the Irish since the early 1900’s. Well–known Irish writer, Cormac MacConnell, was struck by the warm hospitality, so unique to Ireland, when he joined the festival there last July. He called it the “Hidden Ireland”. This hospitality awaits the Catskills Irish Arts Week family of teachers, students, fans and visitors again this coming July.

A wonderful week is in the works with old favorites and exciting new surprises. This year, The Year of the Woman, will celebrate all women in the Irish Arts with a special tribute to Mary Bergin and Joanie Madden for their immense contribution to the traditional music of Ireland. Each will delight with a special concert in her honor supported by masterful musicians, singers and dancers.
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