www.eastcoastpipers.com

This year’s Northeast Tionól will be held at Gavin’s Resort in East Durham, New York (Catskills) from October 24th-26th, 2008. In addition to all the great piping instructors (Mick O’Brien, Ivan Goff, Cillian Vallely, Debbie Quigley, Cormac Cannon, and others), the great fiddlers, Patrick Ourceau and Breda Keville, will be teaching. It’ll be a wonderful opportunity for fiddle students, and there’s still room in the classes. Patrick and Breda will also perform in the instructors’ concert Saturday night, October 25th. Patrick is well-known to New York-area fiddlers; Breda is from East Galway and is steeped in the music of fiddlers from East Clare and Galway such as Paddy Fahey, Bobby Casey, Paddy Canny, and Joe Ryan.
More information (including registration details) on the website at www.eastcoastpipers.com

www.scotsfiddlefestival.com

The 12th annual fiddle festival will take place from 21st to 23rd November, 2008 at Edinburgh Assembly Rooms in George Street. Guests include: Kevin Burke, Jock Tamson’s Bairns, The Chair and The Jenna Reid Band. The new chair of the Fiddle Festival, Mike Kinch, says of this year’s programme: “It is an absolute delight to showcase new, young and very innovative talent in this year’s event, alongside established, benchmark musicians who have kept Scottish Music in its pole position, for so long.” The Saturday night (Grand Concert) brings together, in one amazing event, two sets from artistes that are the best in their class, Jock Tamson’s Bairns and Kevin Burke, and innovative young Scots band, MAK.
Workshops feature tuition of fiddle from all over Europe (Scots of course, Irish, Danish, Finish and Asturian), Mandolin, Mixed Instruments, Viola, Cello, Playing with Pipes, Fiddling for Classical Musicians, which also gives some indication of the range of day-time recitals on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd.

www.comhaltas.com

Tullamore celebrated ‘three in a row’ with the good news from the Ardchomhairle of Comhaltas that the town has again been selected to host next year’s All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. The Fleadh will take place earlier than in previous years (21st to 23rd August), mainly in order to avoid clashing with the start of the new school year. The Director General of Comhaltas, Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, said that Tullamore has set the bar very high for future venues. “Their innovation, dedication, professionalism, hospitality and attention to detail were inspiring. They have placed our cultural traditions on a pedestal and have raised the morale of the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the Fleadhanna for the last two years. We all felt so very welcome in the town which has earned such wide spread admiration. Tullamore is an ideal venue for the Fleadh and will rank as one of the best of all time.”
Fleadh 2009 will officially open on Monday, 17th August, 2009 and continues for a whole week.

www.imro.ie

Following the success of previous film-scoring workshops, the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the RTE Concert Orchestra, in association with Filmbase, FÁS Screen Training Ireland and The Contemporary Music Centre will, once again, bring together the very best emerging Irish film makers and music composers to work on a collaborative project.
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www.ragus.ie

They have thrilled audiences world wide for ten years, now Ragús are ‘ag filleadh abhaile’ with a spectacular and awe-inspiring authentic show of music, song and dance on Saturday, November 8th at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar.  Formed on the rugged and beautiful Aran Islands ten years ago this amazing show will give you shivers down your spine. Unrivalled footwork, pulsating music and passion filled singing will be all merged for a massive celebration of 10 years of success on the world stage for Ragús.
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Armagh 13 - 16 November 2008
www.wkpf.org

Tickets are now on sale for all concerts. For events in the Market Place theatre you can contact the Box Office at +44 (0)28 3752 1821 or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com. Tickets for all other events and more information from +44 (0)28 37511248 or info@wkpf.org.
N.B. Tickets for “Festival Concert 1″ (Friday 14th) and ‘Festival Concert 2′ (Saturday 15th) are selling fast so early booking is advisable to avoid disapointment.
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Wed 28th January to Sunday 1st February 2009
www.templebartrad.com
Dublin’s premier celebration of traditional Irish Music and Culture
in the heart of the city

TRAD ‘09
The dates for the Temple Bar Trad 2009 Festival of Irish Music and Culture have been announced. From Wednesday 28 January till Sunday 1 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, children’s events and much more in a celebration of traditional Irish music and culture.
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Traditional music festival now celebrating its 10th year ~
www.thegathering.ie

The 10th Annual Gathering Festival descends upon The Gleneagle Hotel and The INEC in Killarney from Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd of February for a celebration of the rich culture and diversity of traditional Irish music. A highlight of Irish cultural calendar this year’s programme includes a superb mix of concerts, céilís, classes and lectures.
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www.discoverireland.ie/westport

Westport Arts Festival 2008, which will take place from Friday 3rd – Sunday 12th October, is brimming with an exciting and diverse range of musicians, actors, comedians, author and writers and with over 60 acts to choose from over ten days, there promises to be something to suit  all visitors to Westport this year.
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www.unifemuk.org

Patricia Daly joins musicians and artists from many different nationalities, both male and female, from all over Northern Ireland to create a unique and inspiring fundraising CD.

The CD entitled “She holds half the key” will be launched at a special fundraising concert where they will be performing their music to raise funds for UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women.
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