Applications for Meitheal Summer School 2010 before March 12th!
www.tradweek.com

Meitheal 2010 will run from July 19th to 23rd in Villiers School, Limerick.  A stellar cohort of tutors is being lined up, many of them from overseas and composer Tom Doorley will prepare the orchestral score.  Reaction to Meitheal 2009 was extremely positive and many students highlight the Finale Concert, and the appearance at the National Concert Hall as being unforgettable experiences.

Many of the award winners have already played at the events for which they were chosen.  Patricia McArdle and Daryl Dolan have performed at Ennis Trad Fest, Aoife Cunningham and the group Gealt have played the National Concert Hall.  Meanwhile, Aoife Ní Airgeáin, Aisling Hill, Aisling Douris and Annemarie Bell are preparing for their festival gigs in the Spring.  They have been chosen to appear at the Nyah festival in Cavan, the Kilfenora festival and also at the Corofin Trad fest, all in March.
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NYAH County Cavan Traditional Music Festival
March 10th-28th

www.cavanmusic.com

“For the month of March in the Breffni County, immerse yourself in the music and culture, and rejoice in being Irish”, is the message from the Nyah committee, headed by Martin Donohoe. And traditional music enthusiast, Martin. has been conscious of leaner times with this year’s programming - apart from the workshops only a handful of events have a cover charge, with the majority being free

The word “Nyah” refers to the very expression of the tradition; to the
soul and feeling that makes it so unique…… it’s about the lift the music can
give to the hardest heart.
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www.compassrecords.com

In stores January 26, 2010 (US & CAN) and
Feb 2010 (AUS/IRE/UK)
Produced by and featuring Tim O’Brien

On Natural Angle, Irish band Gráda launches headlong into the cross-genre world of new acoustic music, bridging traditional Irish and Appalachian tunes and songs with Americana songwriting.

“An Irish folk band but hardly a traditional one, Gráda is equally comfortable performing original neo-folk compositions, covers of songs by Suzanne Vega and Sonny Condell, and tunes from Brittany alongside the traditional Celtic tunes…” - All Music Guide

“Gráda is to Irish music what Arcade Fire is to Indie - informal, prodigious and full of spirit.”
- The Washington Post
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www.theroyal.ie
They have performed with Sharon Shannon, De Dannan and Altan and now the hugely popular and talented Cunningham family from Connemara are set to take centre stage themselves at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar on March 7th with a spectacular new music and dance show called ‘Fuaim Chonamara’ (The Sound of Connemara).

‘Fuaim Chonamara’ contains a wealth of talented musicians and dancers from all over the west of Ireland.  Brian O’ Cuinneagain headlines the show direct from his US tour with ‘Teada’ and ‘Seamus Begley’.  He will be joined on stage by his sisters Irene, Ashling and Lorraine, while his younger brother Michael also features as a dancer and musician.
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www.shetlandfolkfestival.com
This year’s Shetland Folk Festival, celebrating its 30th Anniversary, sees yet another eclectic and innovative line up of visiting artistes comprised of both first timers and festival favourites from the years gone by.

Often regarded as the grandaddy of UK folk festivals, the Festival is regarded as a prestigious event for performers, locals and visitors alike – and is 100% organised by volunteers!  The “sessions” in the Festival Club, Islesburgh are often regarded as the best and most unique in the world whilst visiting artistes are regularly dumbfounded by the quantity and quality of local musicians that these remote isles have to offer.
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