The 2010 Ballyshannon Folk Festival takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend Fri 30th Sat 31st July and Sun 1st Aug and  interested Musicians and Folk Artists should contact Mick Mc Grath from the organising Committee on Tel. 086 0696744 or email. mckmcgra@yahoo.co.uk if you require any booking details.

- musical gatherings hosted by GAEL LINN

Bewley’s Café Theatre, Grafton Street
6p.m. – 8p.m.
( Doors open from 5.45p.m. )

TUESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2010
MÁIRE BREATNACH (fiddle/viola/songs)
celebrates the launch of her
beautiful  new album
CRANNA CEOIL/IN FULL MEASURE
with accompaniment from
PAUL DE GRAE (guitar)

ADMISSION: €15 ( includes complimentary finger food )
Bar open/tea and coffee available
BOOKING RECOMMENDED ( LIMITED SPACE ! )
087/2547574

12 December 2009

The veteran song collector and distinguished broadcaster Ciarán MacMahúna passed away on Friday December 11th. Here follows a statement by Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism on the death of Ciarán MacMahúna

I was saddened to hear of the passing of the distinguished Irish broadcaster, who contributed so much to the cultural life of this country, not only through his television and radio career with RTÉ but also as a collector of Irish music, poetry and song. A man of great intellect with a wonderful commitment to and understanding of Irish folklore and the traditional arts, Ciarán made it a priority over the course of his long life to travel and meet musicians and to collect Irish music and stories, preserving them for future generations. He has left us with a wonderful legacy.
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A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR OF IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE

Liam was just the business, nobody ever like him, now then or in future,
he just had it.

There is great sadness in the Laffey house today, but joy too that we got
to know him personally and we had some time over our Saturday breakfast
recalling the great times we had back in ‘99 when we worked on his Wild and
Wasteful Ocean album with him.
(more…)

Music Line up Announced
www.feilebelfast.com

Féile an Phobail’s spring festival Féile an Earraigh is set be the highlight of the music calendar this Spring with highlights including the legendary Penguin Café Orchestra, the renowned Transatlantic Sessions, and spectacular double headliner nights at the festival marquee.

Féile an Phobail yesterday revealed the impressive line up to Féile an Earraigh, the annual traditional music Spring festival, that’s now in its seventh year, which runs from Thursday 4th February to Sunday 7th February 2010.
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Tommy Sands with Moya & Fionán Sands and Heidi Talbot
www.sandsfamilyfolk.com

January 2010
Wed 20. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Strathclyde Suite, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland G2 3NY
Tel 0141 353 8000 Tickets £12.50 — From 7.30 pm

Born in the North of Ireland, an area bitterly divided by opposing religious and political issues, singer-songwriter- activist Tommy Sands has spent his life using music to spread hope, healing and inspiration, as well as entertainment. Since the ’60s with his brothers and sisters in The Sands Family, as a solo performer, and most recently with his daughter and son, Tommy has been bringing traditional Irish songs and original, socially relevant material to audiences all around the world.
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www.anuna.ie
www.michaelmcglynn.com

St. Ann’s Church Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Special guests Alyth McCormack [vocalist] & Noel Eccles [percussion]
Thursday 17th December 2009, 8pm TICKETS AVAILABLE - SEE BELOW
Friday 18th December 2009, 8pm SOLD OUT
[Doors open at 7.15pm. These concerts will finish between 10 and 10.15pm, and will have a 15 minute interval]
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The beautiful and brilliant sound of the Gaelic harp strung with gold, silver and brass is one that is not often heard in Ireland now, but Galway city and county will get that chance when Ann Heymann, doyenne of the Gaelic Harp, performs with her husband, Charlie Heymann, in Galway, Gort and
Craughwell.
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www.kila.ie

The Secret of Kells the stunning feature length Irish animated film which takes a magical look at the story of the Book of Kells and the young St Brendan, and features a equally stunning soundtrack by French composer Bruno Coulais (Coroline, Microcosmos) and Irish band Kíla, has announced its plans for a US release.
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www.imro.ie

The Irish Music Rights Organisation has announced the shortlist for the second annual IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards. The awards recognise Irish venues which provide the very highest standards in live music entertainment. Over 400 venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and more than 6,000 IMRO members were asked to vote for their top picks in an online poll. Venues are judged on a number of criteria including ambience, staging, sound and lighting facilities, diversity of programming, venue staff and management and promotional activities.
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