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If you’re interested in traditional music, Tionscnamh Lugh in County Donegal should be your first point of contact. Concerts featuring: Liz Carroll /Tommy Peoples /Mairtín O’Connor and Dave Flynn. Also, Dermot Bryne, Steve Cooney, Donal Lunny, John McSherry and Padraig Rynne and local heroes Altan.
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The final part of the Leitrim Equation Trilogy began on June 12th with a Gala concert featuring the musicians who will be leading the last two years of this special programme. And this innovative artist in residency scheme from Leitrim County Council has already seen Lúnasa and Dervish working with County Leitrim traditional musicians and two fine albums have resulted from their collaborations. This year the professionals who will mentor the scheme are Donal Lunny, Seamus Begley and John Carty. Joining as special guest for the residency will be Leitrim native and 2012 TG4 Musician of the year, Brian Rooney.
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3rd International McIlroy Guitar Gathering
www.mcilroyguitars.co.uk
The third international gathering of McIlroy guitar players will be held in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland from August 9th–12th. Accommodation will be in the Backpackers Hostel (or you can book your own accommodation in the area. There will be workshops, sessions, concerts and plenty of time for playing, and of courses talking about guitars.
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Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre have announced a series of six concert dates for July and August after the success of the series last year, with audience numbers increasing show after show. Carlingford Heritage Centre, located in the breathtaking St. Micheal’s Holy Trinity Church at the heart of the medieval town has proved to be a wonderful setting for these concerts, with the ambience of the church complimenting the acoustic fiddle and guitar performances beautifully.The series is kindly supported by Louth County Council. The Sunday concerts are one hour long, from 4-5pm, allowing people the freedom to explore the villages many other attractions. Tickets (€10 / €6 concessions) are available from The Heritage Centre on Tel: 042 9373454.
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October 5th–13th, 2012
www.celtic–colours.com
It’s no secret that Cape Bretoners are proud of their Island heritage. “We are an island, a rock in the stream. We are a people as proud as there’s been…” go the lyrics to Cape Breton’s unofficial anthem, “The Island”.
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September 14th – 16th, 2012
www.tuamtradfestival.com
Tuam Trad Festival is delighted to be able to announce that the 3rd Annual Trad Festival will be taking place from Friday 14th – Sunday 16th September, 2012.
The World famous fiddle player, Frankie Gavin will kick–start the festival on Friday evening when he will officially open the Festival in the Corralea Court Hotel at 7.30pm with Macalla (Siansa Prize Winners 2012). Following the launch a concert will be held in the marquee featuring Frankie Gavin and De Dannan, who will be supported on the night by our own Ann Kirrane, whose CD One Small Star was launched earlier this year and has received great reviews.
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August 8th – 13th, 2012
www.feaklefestival.ie
The Feakle festival of Irish Traditional Music is celebrating its 25th year this August. Commencing on Wednesday 8th, the Festival will run for six days and nights with a programme reflecting the best of Irish music and musicians.
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with an intimate and unique new experience
“LYRICS AND POETRY:EMPHASIS ON WORDS”
Wednesday 24th – Monday, 29th October 2012
Tickets on sale Friday, 29th June 2012
Legendary Irish artist VAN MORRISON will premiere an exciting new show when SLIGO LIVE, Ireland ’s folk, roots and indie music festival returns for its eighth year this October. In what promises to be a really special evening, Van Morrison will present a show entitled “LYRICS AND POETRY: EMPHASIS ON WORDS”.
This intimate and unique performance on Sunday 28th October at IT Sligo’s Knocknarea Arena will see Van Morrison accompanied by his rhythm section performing songs with a strong emphasis on words, together with readings from his poetry. Audiences will also be treated to previously unseen work by the creative genius. Songs from his albums, “Astral Weeks”, “No Guru, No Method, No Teacher” and “Hymns to the Silence” will feature in this very special show. Tickets to this one off concert go on sale from www.Sligolive.ie on Friday June 29th at 10am (€47.50 plus €1 Service charge). Numbers are strictly limited so don’t wait around. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
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News has reached us of the sudden death of Dublin Piper Darach De Brun on 24th of June 2012.
One time member of the band Oisin, which also featured Geraldine McGowan and Brian McDonagh (who would later join Dervish). De Brun will be best known for two fine compositions that have entered into the general session repertoire. Both of these were composed for weddings. The first the Man of Arán was written for Tommy Walsh, a Dublin box player who composed the tune Inis Thoir (Inisheer).
Darach told the tale of writing the Maple Leaf on the internet discussion board session.org he wrote ‘The Maple Leaf was composed in 1976 for my own wedding. I had my reception in the Maples Hotel, Dublin, hence the name’.
See Donncha Ó ’Briain - Irish Traditional Music on Tin Whistle (Original 1979, re-released 2011) Gael Linn www.gael-linn.ie to see how quickly these tunes became session favourites.
In later years Darach was a regular player in sessions around Dublin and was a noted piper for almost thirty years in the Capitol. It appears had a massive heart attack, whilst at a session on Sunday, was rushed to hospital but sadly he passed away the same evening.
Our condolences to all his family and friends.
John Sheahan, the iconic fiddle player from The Dubliners, formally opened the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in McGrory’s of Culdaff , County Donegal last night. (Tuesday 26th). Apart from being one of the most recognizable musicians in Ireland, Sheahan writes poetry and he took the time to both play a tune and read from a forthcoming collection in launching the event.
