www.altents.ie

South county Dublin’s foremost traditional and folk music festival, the Des Carty Sessions, presented by Alternative Entertainments Arts Group, is returning to venues around the south county this October for its 8th annual session.

Since it’s beginnings in 2004, Sessions has brought together the best in local, national and international folk & trad musicians giving you the highest quality entertainment. This year, the festival are honoured to host two of the most influential genre-defining musicians in the world, Jim Rooney & Martin Carthy.

In a career spanning more than 50 years, Jim Rooney has been involved in over 150 albums including those of John Prine, Iris DeMent, Nanci Griffith, Peter Rowan and many others. A pioneer of the late 50s early 60s folk revolution in the US, he played a key role in the creation of a new music movement alongside artists such as Eric von Schmidt, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Dave van Ronk & Ramblin’ Jack Elliot. As well as authoring several highly regarded music books, Rooney now plays with Rooney’s Irregulars and divides his time between Nashville and Ireland. Rooney will appear in concert alongside Rick Epping, Mick Daly and Chris Twomey in Celbridge Library on Thursday October 27th as part of the Des Carty Sessions 2011.

Martin Carthy has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators since the early 1960s and has influenced generations of musicians worldwide. Trailblazing musical partnerships with, amongst others, Steeleye Span, Dave Swarbrick, the Albion Country Band (which included members of Fairport Convention), Norma Waterson (award winner and married to Carthy) and his daughter Eliza Carthy has resulted in more than 40 albums, 10 of which are solo albums.  Carthy is a ballad singer, a ground-breaking acoustic & electric guitarist & an authoritave interpreter of newly composed material. His distinctive style and settings of traditional songs with guitar have influenced artists like Bob Dylan & Paul Simon and he was named Folk Singer of The Year at the BBC Radio 2 awards in 2002. You can see this groundbreaking musician play at Áras Chrónáin, Clondalkin on Saturday, October 29th as part of the Des Carty Sessions 2011.

The festival kicks off with an exciting evening of the best of traditonal Irish music in Rathfarnham Castle on Saturday October 22nd at 8pm. Galway natives Kathleen Loughnane, The Kane Sisters (Liz and Yvonne), John Blake and Saileog Ní Cheannabháin provide the entertainment.

The Music of Des Carty is the title of a recital taking place on Monday October 24th in the Saggart Heritage & Arts Centre. Des Carty’s contribution, as musician and teacher, will be celebrated by the people he taught and played with.

eritage & Arts Centre. Des’ contribution, as a musician and teacher, to Irish traditional music will be celebrated by people who learned from him and played with him.

On Tuesday Oct. 25th at 8pm, enjoy an evening of traditional music in the main gallery space of South County Dublins artistic HQ, Rua Red, Tallaght, programmed and presented by the highly respected Tallaght musician Paul Kelly. Among the musicians performing alongside Paul on the night will be acclaimed American harpist Lily Neill, previous winner of the All-Ireland Harp competition.

Sessions regular, Tom Moran, will launch his new book of Irish tunes The Bells of Rathcoole at The Poitín Stil, Rathcoole on Wednesday October 26th and will be joined on the night by Sean Óg McKenna, Máiréad O’Donnell, a host of local musicians and some special guests.

As part of last years Sessions, the family of Máire Garvey celebrated her life with a fantastic concert and this year the celebratory tradition will continue. Josephine Keegan and John Daly are just two of the many artists who will gather to pay tribute to Máire in Saggart Heritage & Arts Centre on Friday October 28th at 8pm.

Kathleen Loughnane will lead a workshop for musicians in the Harping tradition of 17th century Ireland, and will include music by the renowned O’Carolan and the influential Connellan Brothers in Kilteel Community Hall. Kathleen will be Alternative Entertainments Musician In Residence from September 2011 to February 2012.

Get your dancing shoes out for the Céilí! Hosted by St. Mary’s Set Dancers with The Glenside Céilí Band providing the best in céilí music, enjoy an afternoons dancing at St. Mary’s GAA Club, Saggart on Sunday October 30th.

There will be further events throughout the week. To see the full festival schedule and for regular updates, go to www.altents.ie. For further information contact altents@gmail.com or 01-4520611.

Des Carty Sessions 2011 schedule

Saturday October 22nd, 8pm, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin 14 - The Kane Sisters & John Blake, Kathleen Loughnane, Saileog Ní Cheannabháin. Admission €8.

Monday October 24th, 8pm, Saggart Heritage & Arts Centre, Saggart, Co Dublin - The Music of Des Carty featuring Tom Moran, Paul Kelly, Dave Cassidy, Jimmy Cahill & Liam Kennedy. Admission €3.

Tuesday October 25th, 8pm, RUA RED South Dublin Arts Centre, Tallaght, D24 - Paul Kelly & Friends featuring Paul Kelly, Dessie Kelliher, Lily Neill, James Ryan, Alan Doherty, Mick McNamara, Gary O’Brien. Admission €5.

Wednesday October 26th, 8pm, Poitin Stil, Rathcoole, Co Dublin - Launch of The Bells of Rathcoole, a book of tunes by Tom Moran. Admission free.

Thursday October 27th, 8pm, Celbridge Library, Celbridge, Co Kildare - Jim Rooney, Rick Epping, Mick Daly & Chris Twomey. Admission free, boking essential 01 6272207.

Friday October 28th, 8pm, Saggart Heritage & Arts Centre, Saggart, Co Dublin - The Music of Maire Garvey featuring Josephine Keegan, John Daly, the Garvey family and many more. Admission free.

Saturday October 29th, 8pm, Áras Chrónáin, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 - Martin Carthy, Brigid Tunney, Jenny Dillon & Mick Daly. Admission €14.

Sunday October 30th, 3pm St. Mary’s GAA Club Saggart, Céilí with the Glenside Céilí Band & St. Mary’s Set Dancers