www.westcorkmusic.ie

From 13 to 17 August, the legends of Irish music return to Bantry for the 5th Masters of Tradition Festival. For five special days, a select line-up of Ireland’s greatest musicians converge on the picturesque West Cork town of Bantry for this unique Festival, which celebrates the very roots of traditional music.

Looking set to build on the resounding success of its last four years, the 2008 Masters of Tradition Festival throws open its doors to some of the very best musicians in the land. Superb Clare-born but Seattle-based fiddler Martin Hayes will be joined by his usual partner, Chicago-born guitarist Dennis Cahill as well as Dermot McLoughlin, Sean Garvey, Steve Cooney, Iarla O Lionaird, David Power, Niamh Parsons, The Peadar O’Riada choir and many more.
(more…)

www.niamhnicharra.com

Niamh Ní Charra, fiddle and concertina player from Killarney, was presented with “The Best Traditional Music Act 2008” at The Irish World Awards ceremony in the Galtymore, London last month. The Irish World, the largest newspaper for the Irish Community in Britain presents awards annually, recognising rising and existing Irish stars. Previous recipients in this category included Sharon Shannon and Danú. Other recipients at this year’s black tie event included The Furey’s for Lifetime Achievement, Stephen Mangan for Best Comic Actor and the Miami Showband for the Hall of Fame award. Niamh’s award was presented by Shelley Marsden, Entertainment Editor for The Irish World.

RELEASED 7th March 2008

Curb Records are excited to be releasing a brand new album from the richly-talented Brian Kennedy entitled ‘Interpretations’. As the title suggests Brian refreshingly gives his interpretations to a unique collection of beautiful songs which include ‘You Are So Beautiful To Me’ (originally sung by Joe Cocker), Night & Day (Frank Sinatra), Lets Stay Together (Al Green) and Gaye (Clifford T Ward). The album is full of great surprises as Brian effortlessly crosses musical genres and eras – songs from the past and present.
(more…)

Date: Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Time : 6p.m. – 8p.m. (doors open 5.45p.m. )
Cost: €15 ( incl. complimentary finger food! )
About the event: Celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge in the company of
Connemara singer/songwriter Seán Éinniú and friends !
Booking essential ( limited space ! ): 087-2547574
Bar/tea and coffee available !

August 13th – 17th, 2008
www.eigsemrscrotty.com

Éigse Mrs. Crotty Traditional Music Festival and Summer School in Kilrush Co Clare will take place from August 13th to 17th. This festival celebrates the wonderful musical legacy of a talented and celebrated Clare woman – Elizabeth Crotty. Mrs. Crotty was a gentle and unassuming woman and a natural musician who enjoyed a unique mastery of the concertina. In fact people would seek out her company and sit quietly captivated as she played. But what she loved most of all was teaching and encouraging young musicians.
(more…)

www.cill-chartha-kilcar.com

Three years ago the Kilcar Tourism Committee organised the first Children’s Festival, followed in July by a series of Saturday night concerts in the Parish Hall entitled ‘Ceol na gConallach – The Donegal Sessions’ featuring the cream of local traditional musicians and singers and with special guests every week. These events were very successful and this prompted the committee to revive the Kilcar Fleadh last year.
(more…)

July 13th - 19th, 2008
www.east-durham.org
The 14th Annual Catskills Irish Arts Week Summer School will take place from July 13-19th in the Irish American Resort Town of East Durham in upstate New York. The largest summer school in North America devoted to traditional Irish music, song and dance attracted over 600 students last year from over 30 U.S. States including Hawaii and Alaska, 6 Canadian Provinces and Europe. Hundreds more filled up all the local resorts feasting on the daily menu of lectures, concerts, ceilithe and multiple sessions scheduled around the Irish Catskill region.
(more…)

June 13th – 15th 2008
www.wimbornefolkfestival.co.uk

Wimborne Minster, Dorset is once again home to the annual folk festival when the town comes alive to the colour and spectacle of dancers, musicians, locals and those who have travelled miles to be part of this fantastic event.
(more…)

October 10-18, 2008
www.celtic-colours.com

The Celtic Colours International Festival is entering its 12th year of celebrating the only living Celtic culture in North America. The event tales place on beautiful Cape Breton Island, off Canada’s east coast, when the fall leaves are at the height of their glory.
(more…)

The 22nd Year, 13th – 19th July 2008
www.sssschool.org

Nestled at the foot of the Ox Mountains, the south Sligo town of Tubbercurry is the setting for the 22nd South Sligo Summer School of traditional music, song & dance this July.

Classes are held each morning in several traditional instruments including fiddle, flute, harp, concertina, uilleann pipes, traditional guitar, banjo, bodhrán and piano and button accordians. A tinwhistle masterclass is a very popular feature of the school as are the masterclasses in the South Sligo styles of both fiddle and flute playing. Singing classes in sean nós and traditional styles are very popular and so too are the set dancing classes under the expert tuition of Pat Murphy & Betty McCoy and the daily afternoon sean nós dancing class ably taught by Brenda O’Callaghan.
(more…)