OCTOBER 2nd - 5th, 2008

www.corkfolkfestival.com

Beamish & Crawford announced details of the upcoming Beamish Cork Folk Festival today at a launch reception in the Beamish and Crawford Brewery.  The festival will open on the 2nd of October and run until the 5th of October, 2008.

This year’s highlights will include Damien Dempsey, West Kerry’s ‘Beal Tuinne’ featuring Seamus Begley, Rita Connolly, Jim Murray and Shaun Davey, vibrant 11 piece world music fusion band ‘Salsa Celtica’ from Edinburgh and Frankie Gavin and Martin O’Connor and Karen Casey who will perform in the beautiful St Finbarr’s Cathedral.

This Festival will take place in over 22 venues in Cork city featuring over 34 acts, 280 musicians and 5,000 dancers as part of this year’s Céilí Mór celebrations.

Jim Walsh, Chairman of the Beamish Cork Folk Festival said: “The programme for 2008 is quite a varied one with an eclectic mix of folk and traditional Irish music. Our aim is to bring some of the finest contemporary folk music to the people of Cork. We are confident that this year’s festival will be one of the best ever and we look forward to bringing an exciting range of music to venues and pubs across the City in early October.”

“Beamish Stout are once again delighted to be the sponsor of the Beamish Cork Folk Festival 2008. With over 22 venues participating this year there will certainly be a hive of activity around the city from the 2nd to the 5th of October, Damien Dempsey’s performance in the Savoy will surely be a sell out and not one to miss. The Beamish Cork Folk Festival acts have been scheduled in a way which allows followers of the festival to pursue the gig trail performances into the small hours of the morning.” Alf Smiddy, Managing Director, Beamish & Crawford.

Since its inception in 1979, The Beamish Cork Folk Festival has provided lovers of folk and traditional Irish music with a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a feast of top quality music, song and dance.

This year’s Festival will also feature artists, musicians, dancers and singers from Ireland, Britain and beyond. The programme will include a staggering range of musical traditions and styles from Salsa to Slides and old-timey bluegrass to Sean Nós.

Also performing at the Beamish Cork Folk Festival this year will be the Michael McGoldrick Trio with John Joe Kelly & Ed Boyd, the ‘pride of the west’ with John Wynne & John McEvoy, the legendary Beara box player Finbarr Dwyer and Cork’s own Conal O Gráda.

Throughout the weekend, audiences can sample everything from the very best fiddle, accordion, pipes and flute players in Ireland to a giant open-air Céilí Mór with the Kilfenora Céilí Band. As usual the festival will feature concerts from the Cork Blues’, Pipes’ and Singers’ clubs, children’s events and a music trail featuring over 40 free sessions.

As always the festival will include the festival club specialist concerts and master classes.

Bookings can now be made through tickets.ie and from individual venues for further information please visit www.corkfolkfestival.com