I’ve never been to Coolea in West Cork. But as the years roll by, I get a clearer picture of its landscape. I vividly recall RTE footage of Sean O Riada standing elegantly in his sittingroom, one hand resting on the piano, as tells us in his schoolroom manner about, say, Johnny Doherty and the [...]

The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) has moved against several top Irish blogs, demanding they pay hundreds of euro annually to continue sharing songs – even if they are sent to them by the artists and labels themselves, according to the Guardian newspaper.
So far, IMRO has contacted only three Irish blogs, but [...]

Dervish made history as their Sligo pub session on May 2 was beamed to over 30,000 people on the internet for the release their Live Album & DVD From Stage to Stage.
Dervish celebrated their 21st birthday in style as the band played a dynamic pub session of traditional Irish music at the [...]

Cuban, Irish and Canadian Celts share music and dance traditions …

NUIG is starting a new two year diploma in Irish music at the Galway campus this September. The diploma is offered on a part-time basis one evening per week (Wednesday) and runs over a two year period, at the end of which students will receive a Diploma in Irish Music Studies. Topics covered [...]

Last year the Kilfenora Ceili Band marked their hundreth birthday with a hectic schedule, including Glastonbury Festival. So time for the centenarians to hang up their instruments? Far from it, the Kilfenora continue to evolve. Their performance at Glor in Ennis on April 24 looks interesting, with additional players and unusual instruments joining them.
“The [...]

History was made on Saturday, May 1,  as one of the world’s oldest recorded festivals was rekindled at the Hill of Uisneach in Co. Westmeath and at over two dozen sites nationwide.
Originally known as Bealtaine, the summertime festival was an important event on the worldwide calendar, attracting people from the four [...]

TG4’s televised competiton for dancers of all ages, disciplines and codes, An Jig Gig, is returning for another season. In a nail-biting final last December, Irish Beats triumphed over World Champion Clodagh Roper, Celtic Roots, and The Mark Donnellan Memorial Team. The search for An Gig Jig Champion 2010 is now under [...]

FAME came in his 60th year to singer and fiddle player Dessie O’Halloran of Inishboffin The year 2001 saw him travel from his Atlantic island home off the Galway/Mayo coast to perform in Europe and [...]

Born near Bodyke in East Clare in 1916, Martin Rochford started learning fiddle aged ten. He was won over to the uilleann pipes when he heard the travelling piper Tony Rainey [...]

BORN in Nelson, New Zealand, his grandfather came from Wexford. As a child he would hear Irish music on some of his father’s record collection, including fiddler Sean Maguire.
He was inspired to buy a harmonica after hearing the blues playing of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee in concert. He developed an eclectic range of styles [...]