www.westcorkmusic.ie

One of the biggest names in Irish traditional music performs a special concert at the Masters of Tradition in Bantry on Thursday 16th August, ten years after appearing at the first festival.

Uilleann piper Liam O’Flynn formed Planxty with Donal Lunny, Christy Moore and Andy Irvine and has made over fifty recordings. He appeared internationally in Shaun Davey’s The Brendan Voyage and was Tg4 Traditional Musician of the Year in 2007. He makes an eagerly awaited return to the Masters of Tradition for a performance in St Brendan’s Church alongside guitarist Steve Cooney, singer John Flanagan and husband and wife duo Michael Rooney and June McCormack.

Artistic Director Martin Hayes says, “Liam’s performance the first year was something that people talked about a lot. Not only is he a great musician, a wonderful performer of solo pipes, but he’s also able to create something special on stage.”

Tickets for this concert are €13 - €29 and available from www.westcorkmusic.ie or from the West Cork Music office at 027 52788.

There are still tickets available for the other concerts during this unique festival, where traditional music in its purest form is celebrated. On Saturday 18th August, Moya Brennan of Clannad appears with harper Cormac DeBarra, Spanish singer Carmen Ibánez Berbel and Swedish trio Väsen. This promises to be another memorable performance with Moya Brennan making her Bantry House debut. With Clannad, she garnered 15 million record sales and a Grammy in 1998. Since then she has release eight solo albums. This will also be an opportunity to hear Carmen Ibánez Berbel who, according to Martin Hayes, ” is wonderful. She’s thoughtful in a quiet way and while she’s not on stage every day, that isn’t always the marker of quality.”

Other musicians and singers appearing during the Masters of Tradition include the Tulla Céilí Band, The Teetotallers, dancer Stephanie Keane, Malachy Bourke, Toner Quinn, Geraldine Cotter and Len Graham.

The Masters of Tradition is generously supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Failte Ireland.

For more details of these and other concerts during the Masters of Tradition, contact Tel. 027 52788