May 13th-15th, 2016

www.skerriestraditionalmusic.com

This year the 15th Skerries Traditional Music Weekend will take place from 13th - 15th of May in the picturesque seaside town of Skerries situated in the North Fingal region of County Dublin.

In 2016 Skerries will play host to a weekend packed with music, song and dance where leading artists will travel to Skerries and join with locals and visitors in a celebration of our unique Irish heritage. A great selection of top class individual players will be participating throughout the weekend on many levels including formal concerts, tutoring and pub sessions. Artists such as Mary Bergin, Con ‘Fada’ Ó Drisceoil, Mick Conneely, Gráinne Hambly, Mick O’Brien, Martin Quinn, Mairéad Casey, Marcus Maloney, to mention but a few!
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POWERSCOURT TOWNHOUSE THEATRE,
Sth William Street, Dublin 2
6p.m. – 8p.m. (Doors open  from 5.40 p.m.)
THURSDAY, 24 MARCH 2016
Deirdre ( Harp/Songs ) and
Aoife ( Flute/fiddle/Songs ) Granville,
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~ Traditional Irish Music Awards and Concert, Cork Opera House, 21 February ~
www.gradam.ie
TG4 has just announced that Brendan Gleeson and Moya Brennan will be among the star-studded line-up of presenters for this Sunday’s TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2016, the traditional Irish music awards and concert, taking place at Cork Opera House.
The event, which honours the best traditional musicians in Ireland and abroad, is almost sold out. The seven award winners will perform on the evening and they will be joined on stage by a host of top class traditional bands and solo artists, including Patrick Street, Téada and Séamus Begley. It will be the crème de la crème of traditional musical talent on one stage.
Oregon-based veteran fiddle maestro Kevin Burke heads the list of recipients this year. Reared in London by Sligo parents, Kevin Burke’s musical influences and recordings range far and wide in a long career that includes membership of the legendary Bothy Band, collaboration with US folk-icon Arlo Guthrie, a long-time association with Mícheál Ó Domhnaill and an early teenage stint with the Glenside Céilí Band in his native city. (more…)

Festival to bring sights and sounds of the Celtic Nations to Milwaukee’s lakefront

www.irishfest.com

Milwaukee Irish Fest, the world’s largest celebration of Celtic music and culture, announces the festival’s 2016 entertainment lineup. This year’s festival, August 18 – 21, will feature the Celtic World Showcase, bringing musicians from six Celtic nations who will be performing in their native languages to Milwaukee.

“We travel the world in search of the best and brightest in Celtic music and culture,” said Patrick Boyle, executive director of Milwaukee Irish Fest. “We’ve had the great opportunity to connect with many amazing performers and look forward to welcoming them to Milwaukee Irish Fest.”
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An exciting new development in the traditional arts in Clare is underway with Clare Arts Office’s plan to engage a Traditional Singer in Residence.

The residency will be a partnership project, utilising the bank of songs featured in the Songs and Singers of Clare from the Carroll Mackenzie Collection produced by Clare County Library. The target age group is 13-18 and the focus is on developing traditional singing amongst young people.
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www.nch.ie

“Fantastic, feel-good, happy, lively music” Sharon Shannon

On Tuesday 15th March 2016, 8pm one of the oldest céilí bands in the world, the Kilfenora Céilí Band from Co. Clare will be joined by former Riverdance lead Michael Donnellan and his dance troupe Kickincrew, to perform an exciting and energetic show to wow Irish and International audiences this St. Patrick’s week.
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‘ From Mountain to Mountain’
A tribute to the late legendary American song collector and folk singer Jean Ritchie.

The research and early development of this project came about through Mary’s Fulbright Scholarship in 2013. She spent time in Berea Kentucky at Berea College, researching Folk music as well as having two very special opportunities to meet the great artist Jean Ritchie, in 2013 and 2014. During her Fulbright time in New York Mary also collaborated with the celebrated Jazz pianist Ms Bertha Hope, one of the greatest female jazz pianists in the history of American Jazz who resides currently on the Upper West Side and can still  be heard playing at the famous Minton’s Jazz Club in Harlem.
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www.consairtin.ie

Consairtín 2016, the second National Concertina Convention, will take place in Ennis, Co Clare on 1, 2 & 3 April and will be the first flagship event of the Clare, County of Culture, initiative.

Consairtín is a celebration of the concertina in traditional Irish music. The past few years has witnessed an exponential rise in the popularity of the instrument among traditional players in Ireland and the establishment of a national convention now provides a platform for enthusiasts of all ages to gather in an environment that encourages learning, discussion, performance and fun.
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The Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal 2015 goes to flute player Sean Gavin, from Chicago and Detroit via Meelick in Co. Clare. This is the first time the medal has been won by a musician from outside Ireland.

Sean was born and raised in Detroit, and moved to Chicago eight years ago. He was encouraged to play by his father, fiddler Mick Gavin from Meelick, Co. Clare, and has had a lifelong love for traditional Irish music. He played a variety of Irish instruments when he was young, finally settling on the flute at age 11. Scariff flute player Leo MacNamara moved to Sean’s hometown of Detroit in the late 1990s, and was an important influence on him.
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A new series presented and produced by students at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in University of Limerick will be broadcast on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, starting on Friday 12 February 2 pm.

The series will have 6 programmes, presented and produced by first year students at the academy.

The series title means ‘on the banks of the Shannon’ where it was recorded on the beautiful UL campus.  In it, we’ll hear interviews, as well as music and song from the students, their friends and family, former students, and academic staff at the university.
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