Live acoustic and signing

Who: Cara Dillon & Sam Lakeman
Where: HMV Grafton St, Dublin
When: Saturday 24th January – 11am

HMV is delighted to welcome Cara Dillon to HMV Grafton St on Saturday 24th January at 11am. Cara will be performing songs with her husband Sam Lakeman, from her new album ‘Hill Of Thieves’ day of release.

Cara Dillon was born in 1975 in Dungiven in County Derry, Northern Ireland. She grew up in a close musical family in an area steeped in Irish traditional music. She demonstrated a striking vocal ability from an early age winning the All Ireland Singing Trophy when only 14.

The new record, ‘Hill of Thieves’ has a significantly more acoustic sound than previous albums and also sees Cara returning to her roots with an outstanding collection of traditional songs.  Already a highly acclaimed torch-bearer of the tradition and original songwriter, Cara and husband, producer and fellow musician Sam set out with a view to emulate the sound and style of classic albums by artists like Planxty and Paul Brady & Andy Irvine.

Cara delivers some of her finest performances to date with sublime interpretations of classics such as “The Parting Glass” and “She Moved ThroughThe Fair” plus a fresh sounding “Spencer The Rover” which features Cara’s brother-in-law Seth Lakeman on vocals, fiddle and tenor guitar.

HMV Grafton St manager John Rooney said, “We are delighted to have Cara perform in the store for us. Cara is a fantastic talent and her new album is a must for anyone who has followed her career so far.  This is a great opportunity to meet a homegrown talent with a bright future ahead of her. I look forward to what promises to be is a fantastic live performance.”

www.fionakelleher.com

A nationwide tour of Cork musicians Fiona Kelleher (vocal) Jim Murray (guitar) Richard Lucey (accordion) and Ciaran Coughlan (piano) kicks off on January 22nd 2009. The show will feature exciting new arrangements of traditional songs from Fiona’s debut album ” My Love Lies” and also fresh energetic arrangements of well known tunes.

All musicians are well known highly regarded performers and have toured extensively and collaborated with various other groups such as North Cregg, Altan and Sharon Shannon to name but a few. The dynamic combination of Ciaran’s jazz influenced piano playing and Jim’s sublime guitar playing with Richard’s mastery of the accordion give an exciting and inventive new interpretation of the traditional tunes while these supreme musicians provide the perfect backdrop to Fiona’s pure crystal like vocals. Not to be missed!!

Kindly supported by Music Network and An Comhairle Ealaion.

apply now for postgraduate funding
www.mbf.org.uk

Applications are now invited for the MBF Music Education Awards 2009. The awards are the largest source of funding offered by the MBF for postgraduate performance students and up to £300,000 will be awarded in total.

Awards will be offered to outstandingly talented instrumentalists and singers to help with full-time postgraduate study costs (fees and maintenance) or towards the costs of buying a musical instrument. Individual awards will range from £1,000 to £5,000 and the awards also encompass several prestigious named scholarships such as the Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Music Education Awards, Myra Hess Scholarships for piano and Sybil Tutton Awards for opera.

The awards are open to musicians who are British, Irish or have lived in the UK for at least three consecutive years at the closing date and who are intending to study full-time at postgraduate level for the 2009/10 academic year. The main set of auditions will be held at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama during the week of Monday 30th March 2009, with further auditions throughout May and June.

The closing date for applications is Friday 6 February 2009. To apply online visit www.mbf.org.uk.

Tuesday 27 January 2009

A pleasant evening of music and song
is promised in the company of
EITHNE NÍ CHATHÁIN
(voice, fiddle, piano, guitar)
and TARA DIAMOND (flute )! 6p.m. – 8p.m.
(doors open 5.45p.m. )
ADMISSION: €15 (incl. complimentary finger food !)
Bar open/Tea and coffee available
Booking essential ( limited space !): 087-2547574

www.theroyal.ie

One of the most colourful characters in the world of entertainment, Michael Flatley, is to visit the Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre to promote Lord of the Dance, which is scheduled to take place from Saturday 3rd – Thursday 8th January.
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www.myspace.com/seannosnw

Sean-nós Northwest is proud to present the 2nd annual Sean-nós Northwest Festival, January 16-17, 2008. The Sean-nós Northwest Festival celebrates and promotes three aspects of traditional Irish culture – sean-nós singing, sean-nós dancing, and Gaeilge, the Irish language. These living folk traditions from the rural West of Ireland are strikingly beautiful, vitally satisfying, and incredibly rare to find anywhere outside of Ireland.
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www.kierangoss.com

Following the success and critical acclaim for his three sell-out shows at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, in March of this year, Kieran Goss returns to his native Northern Ireland as part of a 16 date nationwide tour and makes a stop off in Strule Arts Centre Omagh on Saturday 27 December at 8pm Tickets £16.  Accompanied by Gareth Hughes on double bass and Ann Kinsella on backing vocals.

Long hailed as one of Ireland’s leading songwriters, Kieran is also well loved for his warm and witty live performances.  In the words of country music legend, Don Williams:
“Kieran Goss is one of the most gifted performers around today. He has an amazing ability to reach out to his audience and connect with them in a very special way. This guy is the real deal, and that’s what makes him the star he is.”

Over the last 20 years, Kieran Goss has quietly and consistently delivered songs of rare quality and his wonderful, deceptively simple melodies have won him fans across the globe.  Closer to home, his songs ‘Brand New Star’ and lately ‘Clear Day’ can be heard daily on UTV’s weather bulletin.  But it’s live, in front of an audience, where Kieran really shines. Quite simply, a Kieran Goss show is an evening of great songs sung from the heart, delivered with consummate ease and humour. If you haven’t yet seen Kieran Goss live, you absolutely must!

‘”The sense of fun is tremendous, the playing first rate and the songs are sheer quality. The encores were genuine, but only because the man is too.”
The Irish Examiner

Don’t miss your chance to see Kieran Goss in Strule Arts Centre on Saturday 27 Book today on 028 8224 7831 or book online at www.wegottickets.com.

www.templebartrad.com

Dublin’s premiere celebration of traditional Irish Music and Culture in the heart of the city

Wed 28th January to Sunday 1st February 2009

Details of the programme for Temple Bar TradFest 2009 Festival of Irish Music and Culture have been announced.  From Wednesday 28th January till Sunday 1st February Temple Bar will come alive with a series of festival concerts and will feature a rich line up of musical performances, showcase concerts, workshops, family events and much more in a celebration of traditional Irish music and culture.

Organised by TASCQ (Traders in the Area Supporting the Cultural Quarter Limited) the 2009 festival which is once again sponsored by Bushmills will be an exciting mix of performers with many new festival innovations, as Temple Bar TradFest has been rebranded and reinvigorated.
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www.theroyal.ie

The Royal Castlebar is delighted to welcome a host of Ireland’s most talented and best loved performers including Sharon Shannon, Mundy, Dessie O’Halloran, The Richie Buckley Band and Shane McGowan, who will give a very special late night performance on Saturday, 27th December. The show will commence at the later than usual time of 11.30pm making it the perfect place to top off a great Christmas night out!

Celebrated Irish traditional musician Sharon Shannon returns to the Royal Theatre much to the delight of fans, who will undoubtedly be anticipating her rendition of the massive 2008 hit single ‘Galway Girl’ with Mundy. Athlone born Mundy is also well known to Irish audiences with a number of hits under his belt including To You I Bestow, from the best-selling soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation, Romeo + Juliet, his cover of Shakira’s, Wherever, Whenever and the summer anthem that is July, to name but a few. Guest of honour on the night will be the legendary Shane McGowan who, in keeping with the Christmas theme, will surely thrill the audience with a performance of his most well-known classic, Fairytale of New York, a duet with Kirsty MacColl which McGowan also co-wrote.

The Royal Castlebar Theatre & Event Centre has an impressive programme for the coming months and is jam-packed with a number of Irish and internationally renowned artists and productions including Daniel O’Donnell- The Christmas Show on Thurs 11th Dec, Here & Now Show – featuring Stars from the 80’s including Paul Young, Bananarama, Belinda Carlisle, Bucks Fizz, T’Pau and Cutting Crew on Friday 2nd and January Michael Flatley’s - Lord of the Dance from Saturday 3rd  -9thJan, and Disney’s High School Musical from Tuesday 20th – Saturday 31st Jan, to list  but a few. It was opened in conjunction with the Days Harlequin Hotel Castlebar and is conveniently located in the same complex making a trip to Castlebar even more special for visitors. “The Royal has an event capacity of around 4,000 making it the largest event venue outside of the O2 Arena in Dublin so we are able to accommodate some of the biggest acts in the world” said Pat Jennings, Managing Director of The Royal Castlebar Theatre & Event Centre and the  Days Harlequin Hotel Castlebar. “ The very special Sharon Shannon, Mundy and Shane McGowan show on the 27th promises to be a great one and the fact that it is on a bit later in the evening will certainly add to the Christmas party atmosphere” added Jennings.

Tickets priced at €39.50 standing and €44.50 seated,  including booking fee, other service charges may apply.  For more information and to view a full programme please visit www.theroyal.ie or call 0818 300 000. For rates, availability and Theatre Packages at the Days Harlequin Hotel Castlebar please visit www.dayshotelcastlebar.com or call (094) 928 6200

www.cic.ie

Jimmy Dinny Ó Gallchóir - Seal ag Gabháil don Cheol.
Jimmy Dinny Ó Gallchóir was born in Cois Cláidí in Gaoth Dobhair in April 1921. The CD, Jimmy Dinny Ó Gallchóir - Seal ag Gabháil don Cheol, has nine tracks in total, both in English and Irish. Included among the tracks is the well-known song, Amhrán Pheadair Bhreathnaigh, which Jimmy often sang. The English songs in the album include Lovely Green Gweedore, The Star of Donegal, and Carrickmannon Lake.

Patsy Ó Ceannabháin - Fear Múinte Mánla.
The CD, Patsy Ó Ceannabháin - Fear Múinte Mánla, was launched in Park Lodge Hotel, Spiddal in Galway on the 3rd October. Máire Pheter Uí Dhroighneáin launched the CD, and Máirtín Tom Sheáinín was MC for the occasion. Patsy’s family, friends and colleagues had a wonderful night celebrating a wonderful Connemara voice.