Families, Military, Students and More Will Enjoy Taste of Ireland at Discounted Rate
www.irishfest.com

The organizers of Milwaukee Irish Fest have made it easy and affordable to enjoy the 2012 festival by bringing back some of its most popular gate promotions. Festival goers can take advantage of free or discounted admission via seven different gate promotions during the four-day festival, August 16 to 19, 2012.
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On Mo Leanbh Records
www.cathieryan.com

It has been seven years since Cathie Ryan released a studio recording of new material and Through Wind and Rain proves the old Irish proverb true: Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir, time is a good storyteller. While Ryan’s voice still rings with the luminous clarity of her earliest work, this collection is truly about the stories: 11 handpicked songs of love, loss, and hope, sung with the hard–won wisdom of a woman who has lived them. It is Ryan’s most deeply affecting work to date.
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Featuring – Enda Scahill, banjo, Martin Howley, banjo, David Howley, banjo, mandolin, guitar and vocals
www.musicnetwork.ie

“We Banjo 3 are terrific. There really isn’t a better way to say it. Wonderful musicianship of the first order. Best of all, they are different.”
– Bill Margeson, Irish Music Writer.

“Enda does things on the banjo which should be impossible.”
–  Irish American News.

The banjo has been likened to Marmite – you either love it or hate it. But when the remarkable We Banjo 3 hits the vellum and virtuosity takes flight, any doubts about this much–maligned instrument are swept aside in a wave of verve and sheer joie–de–vivre.
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www.irishworldacademy.ie

A new scholarship fund has been made available for post–graduate study at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. The Stepping Stones Scholarships target international post– graduate students with a demonstrable record in a performance and/or academic specialisation relevant to a programme of study at the Academy.
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Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney,
February 20th – 24th, 2013
www.thegathering.ie

Toes will be tapping all the way to Killarney for the fourteenth Gathering Traditional Festival which is set to take place at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney from February 20th – 24th, 2013.

This festival is firmly established as one of the most popular celebrations of Irish song and dance the world over. It has grown in strength since its inception way back in 1999 and incorporates a finely tuned mix of concerts, céilís, sessions, workshops and masterclasses.
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September 6th–9th, 2012
www.dingletradfest.com

Dingle Tradfest returns this year after the success of the inaugural event in 2011. Kicking–off on September 6th and running until September 9th in Dingle town, the festival will host a series of concerts, a themed session trail and outdoor events, which will include a session at the summit of Mount Brandon, entitled Tom Crean’s Expedition.
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October 3rd–7th, 2012
Oulu, Finland
www.irkku.fi

The 7th annual Irish Festival of Oulu celebrates the richness of Irish culture through theatre, poetry, film, dance, and plenty of music. Described by fans from near and far as “versatile, lively, colourful, magical and friendly”, the 2012 festival has a world– class programme designed for everyone including storytelling for grown – ups and children, daily sessions, workshops, dance course, Irish award–winning films including The Pier with director/actor Gerard Hurley, Gavin Kostic’s Fight Night theatre performances, Irish poet Tony Curtis, and an art exhibition called Into The Mist featuring colourful etchings from the Boyne Valley in County Meath.
Irish performers include: The Rapparees and Caladh Nua who will team up with local bands to entertain audiences with the best of Irish traditional music. The festival main event features the scintillating Niamh Ní Charra trio followed by Irish music legends Liam O’Flynn, Andy Irvine, Paddy Glackin, and Dónal Lunny – three Planxty co–founders and two Bothy Band originals – guaranteeing a performance of sublimely seasoned class.
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October 26th – 28th, 2012 (concerts and other music and song events)
November 2nd – 4th, 2012 (set dancing and singing events plus sessions)
www.returntocamden.org

Six days of the finest in traditional Irish music, song and dance, jam packed with concerts, céilís, set dancing, workshops and sessions at the London Irish Centre and other satellite venues.

The line–up so far includes: Tulla Céilí Band, Bryan Rooney (TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year 2012) and Pete Quinn/Le Chéile with Danny Meehan (TG4 Gradam Ceoil Hall of Fame Award 2012)/Boys of the Lough/Tommy and Siobhán Peoples with Steve Cooney/Séamus Begley and Jim Murray/Gough, Clancy, Bracken and McCarthy (founder members of Danú)/The London Lasses and Pete Quinn/Eileen O’Brien, Andrew MacNamara and Geraldine Cotter/David Munnelly, Mick Conneely (De Dannan) and Ryan Molloy/Rosie Stewart/Mairéad Casey/Niamh Parsons and Graham Dunne/Damien Mullane and Donagh Hennessy (album launch)/ Jack Talty and Cormac Begley (album launch)/ Emma Sweeney and Matheu Watson (album launch)/Martin Donohoe, Seán O’Sé and Kavan O’Donohoe/ McNamara Céilí Band plus more TBC.
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October 26th – 29th, 2012
www.patrickokeeffe.net

The 20th annual Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival will take place in Castleisland over the October Bank Holiday weekend from Friday October 26th – 29th inclusive. Growing in stature and style with every passing year, last year’s festival included an exhibition of work by local artists. It is intended to continue in that vein as the festival approaches its magical 21st in 2013. The loss of three good friends of the festival over the past twelve months has galvanised the committee in ensuring the best possible programme of events for its patrons. Founder member and former chairman, Mike Kenny passed away on August 12th, 2011 at 55 years of age. The event was his ‘baby’ from one end of the year to the other and he thought of little other than ways of improving it from one year to the next.
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October 12th – 14th, 2012
www.Feilefrankmcgann.com

Dervish set to top 10 year Féile celebrations

Superstar trad group Dervish are set to headline this year’s 10th Annual Féile Frank McGann which takes place in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon this October. The weekend, dedicated to the well–known and loved Frank McGann, has become an established event in the traditional music scene, and attracts musicians and listeners from all over the Country and from further afield.
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