Malcolm Jones, guitarist with legendary Scottish band Runrig, entered hospital in July to undergo heart by-pass surgery. Inverness-born Malcolm, 49, underwent minor surgery after suffering a heart attack earlier this year. Following tests by-pass surgery has been recommended as a standard preventative procedure to ensure he experiences no further recurring heart problems. Unfortunately, the timing of the surgery forced Runrig to cancel three Danish concerts scheduled for the end of June.
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The music of Thomas and William Connellan (c.1640-1720)
www.oreillydesign.com/harp/biog.html
Kathleen Loughnane has released a new CD ‘The Harpers Connellan’ Irish music of the late 17th century.
The Connellan brothers were born in Cloonmahon, Co. Sligo. They had to manipulate the turbulent political and social environment of their time to survive, composing and performing music. According to Arthur O Neill’s (b.1734) account of the life and times of the Irish Harpers, Thomas Connellan’s celebrity was very great in Ireland and it would seem that he was no less popular in Scotland. The council records of Jan 11th, 1717 record that Thomas Connellan was awarded city honours and made Burgomaster of Edinburgh. It seems he was awarded this honour as a result of his musical contribution to the city.
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Irish music lost one of its outstanding singers in June when Rita Keane, Caherlastraine, County Galway, passed away. Her recorded works are few, numbering just two albums with one in general circulation from Claddagh. Along with her sister Sarah, she was a great source of songs and inspiration to a generation of musicians who blossomed during the 1970’s.
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The well-respected Cape Breton fiddler and composer Jerry Holland (54) passed away on Thursday 16th July after a two-year battle with cancer.
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www.celtic-colours.com
Celtic Colours International Festival organisers are pleased to release their line-up for 2009 and are excited about this year’s focus on the ties to and influence of Irish music and culture.
The festival kicks off with Island to Island: The Cape Breton-Ireland Musical Bridge, in Port Hawkesbury on October 9th. It’s a concert that goes to the root of it all, says Artistic Director Joella Foulds. “In 1993, a group of Cape Breton musicians were invited to Ireland to put on a Cape Breton festival in Cork. Now, we have invited the Irish here to share their cultural traditions in this concert and throughout the nine days of the Festival.”
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www.jpfolks.com
We are thrilled to announce that Niamh Ni Charra’s Deoraiocht an tSaighdiura track from her debut album has been nominated in the 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards. The nominees were chosen from over 560,000 songs, submitted from various sources including CD Baby, and the gruelling selection process took a total of 14 months.
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www.compassrecords.com
PRIDE OF NEW YORK & STRING SISTERS: LIVE

PRIDE OF NEW YORK
(Joanie Madden, Brendan Dolan, Billy McComiskey, Brian Conway)
Pride of New York is a new Irish-American super group comprised of some of the best known players in America. Between them, they have won four All-Ireland championship awards, recorded multiple solo albums and logged countless miles touring across the US and abroad. But, at its essence, this quartet of singular talents is defined in spirit by the city of New York which gives the group its name.
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www.shantalla.eu
The band considered by many to be one of the best traditional Irish bands ever to be based in Continental Europe is re-forming for eight Belgian concerts later this year and next. Shantalla will play exclusive dates in Bierbeek, Dilbeek, Leopoldsburg, Lokeren, Bornem, Evergem-Sleidinge, Heist-op-den-Berg and Brussels.
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Trad Fest to represent Ireland at the Interceltique Festival in France
www.templebartrad.com

TASCQ, in association with Diageo Ireland and with support from Fáilte Ireland and Culture Ireland, are taking Temple Bar TradFest, Dublin’s premiere celebration of traditional music and culture to the world’s largest Inter-Celtic Festival in L’orient, France. Running from July 21st to August 9th, the Interceltique Festival (founded in 1969) is one of the world’s largest gathering of Celtic cultures. Musicians travel from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Spain and as far away as Australia to play in the 10-day festival. The festival programme is awash with activity from spectacular pipe band performances, festival concerts, singing and dancing workshops and much more.
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www.karlnesbitt.com
Vista Point is the debut album from musician/producer Karl Nesbitt. At the core of the album are Karl’s new compositions and arrangements, as performed by a five-piece band blending rhythm section with Irish traditional instruments. Influenced by innovators of Irish music over the past twenty years especially, Karl’s respect for traditional music shines through in his treatment of the various sets on the album, whilst achieving a tasteful, fresh and exciting debut.
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