June 22 2016

Leo Brennan, musician, entertainer, and father of the talented family which includes the international talents of Clannad and Enya, has died today, aged 90, at his home in Gweedore, Co. Donegal, Ireland.

All of the family have been with him in his final days and the Irish musical community are mourning the passing of a man who dedicated his life to making happiness with his songs.

Leo was born into a showband family and spent much of his life on the road with the Slieve Foy Dance Band playing accordion, saxophone and as a singer. When the showband era finished - and with the demise of the dance halls - Leo set up in a small pub, Leo’s Tavern, in Meenaleck, Donegal in 1968 to continue his enchanting trade.

‘Leo’s Tavern’, as it became known, went on to become a famous place of nightly entertainment and, significantly, a live stage on which all members of the Brennan family have been able to perform and follow in their father’s footsteps. Over the years the pub has hosted a long list of famous names from stage and screen. The musical tradition has continued to this day and is an important focus of tourist interest in the the North West of Ireland.

Leo is survived by his wife Máire ‘Baba’ Brennan and his peaceful passing is equally mourned by his children - Moya, Ciarán, Pól, Deirdre, Leon, Enya, Olive, Bartley and Brídín.

The funeral will take place at St Mary’s Chapel, Derrybeg, Co Donegal at 12 noon Friday June 24th.

SLIGO LIVE SESSIONS AT CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL 27 – 31 JULY 2016

In an imaginative marketing initiative to promote music on the Wild Atlantic Way, Sligo Live is proud to bring 6 of Ireland’s most talented and accomplished young traditional musicians to Cambridge Folk Festival 2016, where they will entertain festivalgoers with open ‘Sessions’ each afternoon and following the main stage performances.  Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the longest running and most famous folk festivals in the world.
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Deadline: 5pm, Thursday 30th June 2016

Music Network is delighted to announce the Music Network Artist Residency, a new opportunity for professional performing musicians. The Music Network Artist Residency Programme aims to provide a musician with funding in order to plan and deliver a programme of concerts, with integrated audience development components, in partnership with a promoter and a local authority, and in dialogue with Music Network. Full details on how to submit an Expression of Interest below.
We are inviting professional musicians, working primarily in classical, jazz/improvised or traditional music that have a strong track record in music performance and a clear commitment to audience development to submit an Expression of Interest.
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