Last updated: Thursday, February 21, 2013.

For a list of Comhaltas fleadhanna, click Here

Please note: Where the 2013 dates are not yet available, the 2012 dates are indicated.

JANUARY

Shannonside Winter Music Weekend
County Clare
January 17th – 20th, 2013
www.wmw.ie

Celtic Connections
Glasgow, Scotland
January 17th – February 3rd, 2013
www.celticconnections.com

Temple Bar Trad Festival
Dublin
January 22nd – 27th, 2013
www.templebartrad.com

FEBRUARY

The Concertina Cruinniu
Miltown Malbay, Co Clare
February 8 – 10, 2013
http://update.oac.ie/concertinacruinniu

Drogheda Singing Gathering
Ireland’s Largest Gathering of Traditional Singers
8th-10th February 2013
www.facebook.com/thedroghedasinginggathering

Ceol Chairlinn
Carlingford, County Louth
February 8th – 19th, 2013
www.carlingfordbeds.com

Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh
County Kerry
February 13th – 17th 2013
www.scoilcheoil.com

The Gathering Traditional Festival
Killarney, County Kerry
Feb 20th – 24th, 2013
www.thegathering.ie

MARCH

John Joe Maguire Memorial Festival Weekend
Swanlinbar, Co. Cavan
March 1st – 3rd, 2013
www.johnjoemaguire.com

Inishowen Traditional Singers Circle
County Donegal
March 22nd – 25th, 2013
www.inishowensinging.ie

Ceardlann Earraigh
Celbridge

Co Kildare. March 23, 2013
www.ceardlannearraigh.com

Féile Patrick Byrne
Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
March 21th – April 24th, 2013
www.myspace.com/patrickbyrnefestival

Féile na bPáistí
Children’s Festival
April 2nd–4th, 2013
www.cill-chartha-kilcar.com

Féile Átha Dá Chab
Ballydehob, County County
March 22 – 24, 2013

http://www.ballydehobtradfestival.com/

APRIL

Clifden Traditional Music Festival
Clifden, Co. Galway
April 4th–7th, 2013
www.clifdentradfest.com

Kilfenora Music Festival
Kilfenora, County Clare
20th April 2013 – 25th May, 2013
www.kilfenorainfo.com

Nyah Festival
Cavan, April 15th – 20th, 2013
www.cavantowncomhaltas. ie

MAY

Féile Na nDéise
Dungarven, County Waterford
28th April – 2nd May, 2013
www.feilenandeise.com

The “Cup of Tae” Traditional Festival
Ardara, County Donegal
May 3rd–6th, 2013
www.cupoftaefestival.com

Baltimore Fiddle Fair
Baltimore, West Cork, Ireland
May 9th–12th, 2013
www.fiddlefair.com

Skerries Traditional Weekend
County Dublin
May 17 – 19, 2013
www.skerriestraditionalmusic.com

Fleadh Nua in Ennis
May 19th – 27th, 2013
www.fleadhnua.com

JUNE

Seisiúin Thir Chonaill
June 2013
www.dungloe.info

The Galway Sessions
June 10th–17th, 2013
www.galwaysessions.com

Blas Summer School
University of Limerick, Limerick
June 24th – July 5th 2013
www.blas.ie

JULY

Coleman Country Bodhran School
Gurteen, County Sligo
July 1 – 5, 2013
www.colemanbodhran.com

Willie Clancy Summer School
Miltown Malbay, County Clare
July 6th–14th, 2013
www.oac.ie

Carrick-on-Shannon Water Music Festival
Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim
June 25th–30th, 2013
www.carrickonshannonwatermusic.com

Earagail Arts Festival
July 6th–21st, 2013
www.eaf.ie

South Sligo Summer School
Tubbercurry, County Sligo
July 14th– 20th, 2013
www.sssschool.org

Meitheal Summer School
Villiers School, Limerick
July 22nd – 26th, 2013
www.tradweek.com

Ardara Bluegrass Festival
Ardara, County Donegal
July 19 – 21st, 2013
www.ardara.ie

Joe Mooney Summer School
Drumshanbo, County Leitrim
July 20th – 27th, 2013
www.joemooneysummerschool.com

Fiddlers Green Festival
Rostrevor, County Down
July 21st – 28th, 2013
www.fiddlersgreenfestival.co.uk

James Morrison
Traditional Music Festival
July 3rd – 6th, 2013
www.morrison.ie

Scoil Acla Irish Traditional Music Summer School
Achill Island, County Mayo
July 27th – August 3rd, 2013
www.scoilacla.com

AUGUST

O’Carolan, Harp & Traditional Music Festival
Keadue, Co. Roscommon
July 29 – August 2, 2013
www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie

Ballyshannon Folk Festival
Ballyshannon, County Donegal
August 1 – 4, 2013
www.ballyshannonfolkfestival.com

Feakle Traditional Music Festival
Feakle, County Clare
August 7th – 12th, 2013
www.feaklefestival.ie

Féile Cheoil Chill Chartha
Kilcar Fleadh, Kilcar, County Donegal
August 2013
www.cill-chartha-kilcar.com

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
Derry
August 11th – 18th, 2013
www.2013fleadh.ie

Masters of Tradition Festival
Bantry, County Cork
August 14th–18th, 2013
www.westcorkmusic.ie

Coleman Traditional Festival
Gurteen, County Sligo
August 21st – 25th, 2013
www.colemanirishmusic.com

SEPTEMBER

The Peninsula Sessions
Newtownards, September 12 – 15,  2013
www.festivalofthepeninsula.info

Gign the Bann Music and Dance Festival
Portglenone, County Antrim
September 5th – 8th, 2013
www.gignthebann.com

Dingle Tradfest
Dingle, County Kerry
September 12th – 15th, 2013
www.dingletradfest.com

Tualla Trad Festival
Tulla, County Clare
September 6th – 8th, 2013
www.tullatradfestival.ie

Gerry Whelan Memorial Weekend
Cootehill, County Cavan
September 2013
www.gerrywhelanweekend.com

Tuam Trad Festival
Tuam, County Galway
September 20th, 2013
www.tuamtradfestival.com

Johnny Doherty Music & Dance Festival
Ardara, County Donegal
September 27th – 29th, 2013
www.ardara.ie

OCTOBER

Cork Folk Festival
October 10 – 13, 2013
www.corkfolkfestival.com

Feile Frank McGann Irish
Traditional Music Festival
October 2013
www.feilefrankmcgann.com

Scoil Cheoil na Botha
October 12 – 14 (2012 dates)
Scotstown, County Monaghan
www.anbhoth.ie

Patrick O’ Keeffe
Traditional Music Festival
Castleisland, County Kerry
October 26 – 26 (1012 dates)
www.patrickokeeffe.net/

Sligo Live Festival
Bank Holiday Weekend, Sligo
October 23rd – 28th, 2013
www.sligolive.ie

NOVEMBER

Ennis Trad Festival
Ennis, County Clare
November 7th-11th 2013
www.ennistradfestival.com

William Kennedy Piping Festival
Armagh
November 14th – 18th, 2013
www.armaghpipers.com

DECEMBER

Frankie Kennedy Winter School
County Donegal
December 27 January 1.
www.frankiekennedy.com

Peadar Ó Riada ag déanamh comhghairdeas le Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, píobaire, agus le hOisín Morrison, cruitire, tar éis dó na boinn óir a bhronnadh orthu.

Is iad Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, píobaire, agus Oisín Morrison, cruitire, a thug leo Boinn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada sa chraobhchomórtas a bhí ar siúl in Óstán an Rochestown Park Chorcaigh. Bronnadh bonn óir, déanta ag an ngabha óir Pádraig Ó Mathúna as Caiseal Mumhan, agus seic €1250 an duine orthu ag an ócáid.

As Muineachán do Thiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, ceoltóir aitheanta. Tá sé ag casadh na bpíob uilleann ó bhí sé 9 mbliana d’aois nuair a thosaigh sé le Club na bPíobairí in Ard Mhacha. Is ceoltóir gairmiúil é, agus tá camchuairt an domhain tugtha aige ag casadh ceoil le grúpaí éagsúla agus mar cheoltóir aonair. D’eisigh sé an t-albam ‘Ceol is Píob’ lena bhean chéile Stephanie Makem sa bhliain 2008. Tá cláir raidió agus teilifíse curtha i láthair aige do RTÉ, do TG4 agus do BBC, agus bhí a chuid ceoil le cloisteáil ar fhuaimriain dhá scannán freisin.

As Ráth Fearnáin i mBÁC don bhuaiteoir ar an gcruit, Oisín Morrison. Is mac léinn iarchéime é Oisín i gColáiste na hOllscoile BÁC agus é ag tabhairt faoi mháistreacht sa Ghaeilge faoi láthair, agus tá bunchéim aige sa Ghaeilge agus sa cheol. Bhronn an Ollscoil scoláireacht Ad Astra sna healaíona air anuraidh. Tá sé ag casadh ceoil ar an gcruit le deich mbliana anuas. Ba é a roghnaíodh mar ionadaí na hÉireann, mar aon le Aidan Connolly, fidléir, ag ceiliúradh 100 bliain na Comhdhála Ceiltí in 2011. Bíonn Oisín ag múineadh ceoil san ardchathair agus ag féilte éagsúla le linn an tsamhraidh freisin.

15 ceoltóir a bhí san iomaíocht sa chraobh, ochtar píobairí agus seachtar cruitirí. Ba iad na píobairí Mick O’Brien as BÁC agus Ailean Domhnallach as Albain, agus an cruitire Laoise Kelly as Maigh Eo, a rinne moltóireacht ar an gcomórtas.

San iomaíocht sa chraobh ar an gcruit bhí Ailie Robertson, Aisling Lyons, Anna Sheehan, Fiana Ní Chonaill, Kavan Donohoe, Oisín Morrison agus Úna Monaghan. Ar na píobaí bhí Éanna Ó Cróinín, Eoin Quinn, Fiachra O’Regan, Fionn Ó hAlmhain, Fionnán Mac Gabhann, Kieran Joy, Mícheál Ó Sé agus Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn.

Is í seo an tríú bliain do Pheadar Ó Riada an comórtas seo a reáchtáil ar a chlár raidió ‘Cuireadh chun Ceoil’ ar Raidió na Gaeltachta. Is iad consairtín agus bosca ceoil na huirlisí a bheidh i gceist do chomórtas na bliana seo chugainn.

The Dubliners are to disband at the end of the year. Their final performance will be on New Year’s Eve on the popular BBC annual Hootenanny, hosted by Jools Holland.
The band will be on RTE’s Late Late Show on December 14, followed by a series of farewell gigs at Dublin’s Vicar Street on December 28, 29 30.
The band suffered the loss of one of its most colourful members with the death of banjo player Barney McKenna last April. In a note to the group’s German fans, John Shehan wrote: “There are times in life when things reach a natural finishing point. Barney and I had spoken about this, and it was his feeling that we should take a break from touring at the end of this year.  It is with a great sense of nostalgia that I have to tell you that this will be the last Dubliners’ concert tour of Germany.”

The current line up is John Sheahan who joined the band in 1964 on fiddle, Sean Cannon, vocals, Eamon Campbell, guitar, and Patsy Watchorn, vocals and banjo, with Gerry O’Connor joining in on banjo.
The band celebrated their 50th anniversary this year with an extensive year-long European tour and the release of a live DVD. The tour continued in the wake of the death of Barney McKenna. John Sheahan said at the time: “The whole show is a tribute to Barney and all the others, and to our own survival for 50 years.”
The original line up of the Dubliners was Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Ciaran Burke and Barney McKenna, all now on Sli na Firinne.

Tá Peadar Ó Riada agus RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta ag glacadh le hiarratais don chomórtas bliantúil ceoil ar a chlár Cuireadh Chun Ceoil i gcuimhne a athar, Seán Ó Riada.

Tá comórtas na bliana seo dírithe ar chláirseoirí agus ar phíobairí, agus bronnfar bonn óir agus duais airgid ar cheoltóir amháin i ngach ceann den dá rannóg. Beifear ag glacadh le hiarratais go dtí 31 Deireadh Fómhair. Chuir Peadar tús leis an gcomórtas seo trí bliain ó shin i gcuimhne ar a athair, agus é mar aidhm aige an clann éisteoirí atá ag a chlár raidió a thabhairt le chéile agus líonra a fhorbairt le cúnamh ón nua-theicneolaíocht.

Chuir os cionn 60 fliúiteadóir as gach cearn den domhan isteach ar an gcomórtas anuraidh, agus ina measc siúd a bhí sa chraobh bhí ceoltóirí ón bhFionlainn, as Chicago, as Londain, as Dún Éideann na hAlban, agus as Éirinn. Ba é Tim McHugh as Maigh Eo a thug leis an bonn.

Síleann Ó Riada go bhfuil an iomarca béime sa lá atá inniu ann ar theicnící agus ar ornáidíocht sa cheol, ach sa chás seo beidh ceolmhaireacht agus spiorad an cheoil chomh tábhachtach céanna do na moltóirí, nó níos tábhachtaí fiú, ná cruinneas teicniúil. Le cur isteach ar an gcomórtas, ba cheart do cheoltóirí 5 phíosa ceoil a thaifeadadh agus iad a uaslódáil go dtí an suíomh idirlín www.cuireadhchuneoil.ie, nó iad a chur ar dhlúthdhiosca agus iad a chur sa phost chuig Peadar Ó Riada, Cúil Aodha, Co. Chorcaí.

Tá na sonraí uilig le fáil ar an suíomh. Moltar dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo cur isteach ar an gcomórtas é sin a dhéanamh go luath, gan a bheith ag fanacht go dtí an dáta deiridh. Roghnófar 15 iomaitheoir don ghearrliosta, agus tabharfar cuireadh dóibh siúd seinm ar stáitse ag ceolchoirm mhór in Óstán an Rochestown Park i gCorcaigh i mí Eanáir, áit a roghnófar an buaiteoir.

Casfaidh Peadar Ó Riada cuid de na hiarrachtaí ó iomaitheoirí ar a chlár Cuireadh Chun Ceoil gach Aoine ar Raidió na Gaeltachta ag 7pm, agus beidh daoine in ann clárú leis an suíomh idirlín www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie agus iad a chloisteáil ansin freisin.

http://saol.gaeilge.ie

Singer Dolores Keane (58) was banned from driving for four years and fined €300 for drunk-driving at Glenties District Court (June 28, 2012). The former De Danann singer is now on her third driving ban. The singer had admitted being nearly twice over the alcohol limit when driving outside the courthouse and less than 80m from the Garda station on March 26th, 2011.
The court was told it was her second drink-driving incident within a few months as she was already banned for three years for an offence near her home outside Tuam, Co Galway, in November 2010. The four-year ban will run concurrently with the three-year disqualification.
Judge Peter Kelly was told that Ms Keane, who spent three months this year at an alcoholic counselling and treatment centre, was first banned from driving for two years in June 2000.
Garda Insp Dennis Joyce, prosecuting, said Ms Keane’s latest drink-driving occurred in March last year outside the courthouse in Glenties when gardaí received a report of a car being driven in an erratic manner on the wrong side of the road. The singer was co-operative with gardaí.
Solicitor Eric Gleeson, defending, said Dolores Keane had two children, one of whom was blind. “She drank all her life, which affected her health and wellbeing, and more recently began to drink heavily.”
This year she went on a 12-week alcoholic counselling and treatment course in a Cuan Mhuire centre and, at one stage, she was removed for treatment to hospital in Limerick.
Mr Gleeson added that she was now off alcohol and medication and “a lot more healthy” than when he first took instructions from her last year. She was getting her career back on track and there was a forthcoming tour.
Judge Kelly said to Ms Keane that it was obvious her being in court was “sufficient” punishment.
She replied: “Yes.”
The judge said: “I am sure you would rather be remembered for A Woman’s Heart and your other fine productions.”
He added that he wished her the best of luck with her continued career. She replied: “Thank you very much.”
The judge said he would impose only a fine instead of a prison or suspended prison sentence. He also banned her for four years.
“You are seriously in peril if you find yourself in this situation again,” he told her.
The singer once more replied “thank you” as she left the court with a sister and her manager.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta marks 40 years on air this year, as does the Willie Clancy Summer School, and as part of the celebrations to mark both occasions a gala concert will take place in the Community Hall on Sunday 8 July in Miltown Malbay, and will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Tommy Peoples and Peadar O’ Loughlin are just two of the top musicians who will be heard in the concert which will be presented by Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha and Seán Bán Breathnach of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.  It will be broadcast live from 8pm on FM and online at www.rte.ie/rnag.

Traditional Irish music has been a cornerstone of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s schedule since the station was established on 2 April 1972.  The following year the fledgling station went to Miltown Malbay in Co. Clare in July to record some of the music that was to be heard in that inaugural year of the Summer School, and they have been there every year since, recording and broadcasting some of the superb music that can be heard there.  There were no live broadcasts in the early days, but that changed in the eighties with improvements in technology.  RnaG broadcast live from a national school six miles outside Miltown, Scoil Náisiúnta Sliabh na Leice, one year because it was the most elevated place they could find – essential, of course, to get a good signal!   As technology improved live broadcasts were possible from the town, and Raidió na Gaeltachta used to broadcast from a caravan situated outside the hall.  Eventually, the station acquired an outside broadcast unit, an ródaí, and since then it has become a fixture of the festival, parked outside the hall for the week.

Listeners can tune in for some great traditional music on Sunday 8 July from 8pm on Raidió na Gaeltachta, a tribute to those who have contributed to the development and success of the Willie Clancy Summer School over 40 years.

Micheal O Cuaig

Ar ócáid speisialta le linn fhéile Sean-Nós Cois Life 2012 bronnadh ‘Gradam Shean-Nós Cois Life’ ar Mhicheál Ó Cuaig (Conamara) i gClub na Múinteoirí, 36 Cearnóg Pharnell. Bronnadh an gradam ar Mhicheál as ucht an tsaibhrithe atá déanta aige ar an amhránaíocht dhúchasach thar na blianta. Is mar chomhartha ómóis agus measa a bronnadh an gradam seo, píosa dealbhóireachta ó lámha an ealaíontóra Clíodna Cussen.

Ar an mbonn cré-úmha a bronnadh tá íomhá ón scéal miotaseolaíochta Iomramh Bhrain, ina mealltar Bran go dtí an saol eile le hamhrán álainn. Is as ceantar Chill Chiaráin i gConamara do Mhicheál Ó Cuaig. Tá aithne fhorleathan air toisc a chuid oibre le Féile Chomórtha Joe Éinniú go príomha. Tá taighde déanta aige ar amhráin a cheantair dhúchais agus tá sé ag múineadh amhrán do dhaoine óga le fada an lá. Aithnítear é mar amhránaí breá a bhfuil stór d’amhráin áitiúla neamhchoitianta aige. Is mar chomhartha ómóis agus measa dá chuid oibre ar son thraidisiún a cheantair dhúchais féin a bronnadh Gradam Shean-Nós Cois Life air le linn na féile i mbliana.

D’éirigh thar barr leis na seisiúin agus leis na ceardlanna amhránaíochta agus ní raibh aon chaill ar na steipeanna a rinneadh ná ar an gceol a seinneadh mar ghnéchuid den chibeal. Ba seo an t-aonú bliain ar fhichid a reáchtáladh Sean-Nós Cois Life agus tá lucht a eagraithe, Antaine Ó Faracháin, Máire Ní Choilm, Deirdre Nic Eanruig, Marie Riney, Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Máire Ní Chróinín agus Mairead Ní Oistin le moladh go spéir. Comhartha air sin iarghradamóiri agus scata mór de cheoltóirí, Tony McMahon ina measc, a bhí ann chun blas na hócáide a cheiliúradh.

Tuigtear do SAOL go bhfaightear gach tacaíocht chomh maith i gcónaí ó chlub amhránaíochta An Góilín agus ó Thadhg Mac Pháidín, Club na Múinteoiri.

Veteran folk singer Andy Irvine is planning a 70th birthday bash in Dublin’s Vicar Street on June 16, 2012. On stage with him on the night will be a catalogue of past collaborators including Johnny Moynihan, Donal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn, Paul Brady, Paddy Glackin and Mozaik.
Such is the popularity of the occasion, the first night has been sold out and a second concert has now been added for June 17.
Paul Brady will join Andy and Johnny Moynihan for a reincarnation of Sweeney’s Men. There’s talk of a live CD recorded on the evening and filming the event has been hinted at.
Andy still has hopes of recording a Woodie Guthrie album, to be produced by Donal Lunny. “The one thing I’ve decided I’ve got to do”, he said recently, “is to relearn how to play the guitar in the Woodie Guthrie style. I haven’t played the guitar with the plectrum … it’s going to take me a while. I used to play like Woodie. I used to have his style off pretty well.”
http://www.andyirvine.com/

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamonn Gilmore has criticised supporters of a cultural boycott of Israel, who are accused of bullying the music group Dervish into abandoning an Israeli tour, as “totally unacceptable”. Justice Minister Alan Shatter had already accused Dervish’s critics of “cyber bullying”.
Dervish had pulled out the tour of Israel because of an “avalanche of negativity” and “venom” directed towards them on social media websites.
Mr Gilmore, who is also Tanaiste (deputy prime minister), said Irish artists should be free to decide for themselves whether they wished to engage with Israel.
While the Irish Government has a pro-Palestine stance on the conflict, “it is the right of others to take a contrary view”, he said, adding that he thought “efforts to harass artists with a view to intimidating them from exercising their freedom of choice in relation to engagement with Israel” were “completely unacceptable”.
Singer Cathy Jordan had said the band members were not politically minded and were only due to go on the three-date tour at the invitation of an Israeli friend and musician called Avshalom.
On the band’s Facebook page, she wrote: “In hindsight, it was very naive of me to think our motives would not be misunderstood and misrepresented.”
The group said they have opted out of the tour because they were unaware there was a unofficial boycott among Irish artists performing in Israel.
However, some artists have chosen to state publicly that they will not perform in Israel in protest at the treatment of the Palestinian people.
The Israeli Embassy in Dublin described the boycott as “cultural terror” and a “particular shame as culture is supposed to unite people”.
Cathy Jordan said on the band’s website: “Although I was aware of the concerns with our proposed visit to Israel, I wasn’t quite prepared for the extent of the venom directed at us.
“I deeply regret any upset caused by all of this. It was far from our intention to stir up all this anger and hatred, when the opposite was what was intended.”
The singer said that she would continue to attempt to make the world a better place through music. “I live in hope that one day love will conquer all,” she said.
Members of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign claimed they were responsible for forcing the band to call off the tour.
National co-ordinator Kevin Squires said the organisation had made the band aware of the cultural boycott and had directed its supporters to target its website, although he denied there was any “venom” directed towards it.
Dervish, however, had received strong support from Justice Minister Alan Shatter, a member of the Irish Jewish community, who accused their critics of “cyber bullying”.  He told the Sunday Independent: “The Irish Palestinian Solidarity Group’s action in directing its members to ‘target’ the website of the musical group Dervish in order to intimidate the group into cancelling their planned concerts in Israel is nothing other than cyber bullying.”
Mr Gilmore asserted that he had been happy to attend the opening of the Israeli Film Festival last November, and said he had underlined on that occasion that the Government opposed the boycott campaign.
Irish artists have been prominent in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel. The campaign started in August 2010 and, to date, 218 Irish artists have pledged not to perform in the country, including Damien Dempsey, Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny.
Composer Raymond Deane, the IPSC’s cultural liaison and boycott officer, said it was “lamentable that the Tánaiste would repeat such baseless accusations” and described his reply as a “slander”.
Dervish “received private approaches from very well-known colleagues in the traditional music world, pointing out the existence of the cultural boycott and the boycott pledge”, Deane said, pointing out that Dervish’s original statement cancelling the tour made no reference to online abuse.
“The torrent of intimidation came afterwards and came exclusively from Zionists, and from supporters of Israel.”
Deane added that Mr Shatter’s original statement, linking IPSC’s actions to the documents recovered from Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, “should have testified to the absurdity of the [minister's] claim”.

Dervish and fellow Irish music group Fullset were scheduled to play three dates at the end of June in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Nahalal.

Cathy Jordan profile

http://www.dervish.ie/

Discussion on politics.ie

Singer Louis O’Carroll died on March 2, 2012, following a road acident in his native Kerry. The popular balladeer was walking to a friend’s house in his home town of Listowel when he was struck by a car but was not, apparently, badly hurt and told the woman driver he was fine and able to continue to his friend’s house. However, his condition later deteriorated and an ambulance was called. He died on the way to hospital
Throughout his life he was a popular social singer but in the past two years this evolved into a second career with packed-out performances, in Kerry and Dublin, of the works of Sean McCarthy, Sigerson Clifford and composers celebrating the culture and landscape of Kerry. He featured prominently at last July’s Sean McCarthy Finuge Festival and in August was warmly received in the National Concern Hall for a concert to raise money for the Tralee Hospice.
A respected pstchiatrist by profession, he worked for most of his career in Dublin, spending 20 years in St Ita’s Hospital, Portrane, and specialised in development disability, mental health and Asperger Syndrome. He worked  in a part-time capacity since his retirement in 2008 in Tralee General Hospital, to which he was being brought when he died.
Gardai said no suspicion surrounded the incident and that the woman driver had identified herself and had asked Dr O’Carroll if he was well enough to continue before he assured her he was.
Last March he released his debut CD, River to Sea, on which which he recorded ten ballads in aid of Kerry Hospice.
Dr O’Carroll, 62, was married to Judith and their son, James, is a barrister in Dublin. He was the youngest of a family of 15 children, ten boys and five girls, from Cahirdown outside Listowel.
River to Sea CD samples

A song based on The Rocky Road to Dublin will be the official anthem of the Irish fans at this summer’s European Football Championships in Poland and the Ukraine.
The the lyrics to The Rocky Road to Poland were compiled from suggestions put forward by listeners to Ray D’Arcy’s Today FM Show. Their contributions were then stitched together by singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey who called the whole process “nerve-wracking” as its awkward 9/8 timing, unique to Irish music, makes it hard to put lyrics to. Damien added his version of the chant ‘You’ll never beat the Irish’ to give the fans something to sing along to.
The single features The Dubliners, The Corona’s Bressie and Damien Dempsey. The Irish team add their vocals to it. The public will be able to get in on the act by singing along to a specially created app and their voices will be added to the final version.
The single is due out in April or May just in time for the European Championships. All proceeds will go to the Irish Cancer Society’s Shave or Dye campaign and to the John Giles Foundation.

The Rocky Road to Poland

T’was in the merry month of June from our home we started
Left old Eireann’s isle, to Poland we departed
Hope within our hearts.

We can win a trophy
We’re a part of Trappatoni’s army,
Get behind the team, hear the Irish scream,
C’mon you boys in green, Ireland’s bouncing back again,
We have got our Trap, the cat is in the sack,
We’ll not forget you Jack on the Rocky Road to Poland

One, two, three, four, five
Irish eyes are smiling
Let your voices ring,
Trappatoni’s army,

Everybody sing
You’ll never beat the Irish (x 4).

Make your mother proud, inflate your plastic hammer,
Bate your bodrhan loud and learn your Polish grammar
Credit union loan, sold the Opel Corsa,
Hired a camper van, picked it up in Warsaw,

Been so close before, hopes slammed in the door,
Now we’re back for more, we can win the battle,
C’mon you boys in green, never have we seen,
Such a fearless team on the Rocky Road to Poland.

One, two, three, four, five
Irish eyes are smiling
Let your voices ring,
Trappatoni’s army,
Everybody sing
You’ll never beat the Irish (x 4)

Ireland abú. We love.

Long-time London resident Brian Rooney heads the list of recipients of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2012 (Traditional Music Awards) announced on February 2. Born and reared near Kiltyclogher in north-Leitrim, Brian’s fiddle playing soon earned him a place at the very centre of London’s vibrant traditional music scene in the 1970s and his recordings then and since have copper-fastened his status.
This year’s awards will be presented at the Gradam Ceoil Concert at UCH, Limerick on March 24. Recipients will be joined by a host of special guests in a concert hosted by Aoife Ní Thuairisg and Páidí Ó Lionáird that will be broadcast on TG4 on Easter Sunday April 8.

Caoimhín Ó Fearghail: Young Musician of the Year
Piper Caoimhín Ó Fearghail was born in 1989 and comes from An Rinn in the west Waterford Gaeltacht. As a fledgling piper he won three All-Ireland titles under the age of 12. He has also won awards as a soloist on other instruments. In 2011 he performed with Danú on a UK tour, playing both flute and pipes, and in April 2010 he played around Boston with Kerry fiddler James Duggan. He’s also featured regularly over the past three years in the Booley House show based in Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.
He is at present studying for an MA in Irish at Cork University and can be heard frequently in session in that city at The Corner House pub with Mick Daly, Geraldine O’Callaghan, Aidan Coffey and Denis Brookes.

Danny Meehan: TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award
Danny Meehan was born into a large musical family in Drimalost, west of Donegal town in September 1940. The household was full of music. Danny’s paternal grandmother, Susie Mc Groarty sang an lilted and his parents, Jimmy and Nan played fiddle and melodeon. His father taught him the fiddle, as he did with all his siblings. Indeed Danny himself can also be called upon to play a tune on the accordion.
At the age of 16 Danny left Donegal for England. He moved around England and Wales before moving to London in 1963. At that time the city was a haven for music and Danny played with legendary figures from all over Ireland – Bobby Casey, Jimmy Power, Julia Clifford, Lucy Farr, PJ Crotty, Con Curtin and Roger Sherlock.
He also joined up with a group of musicians who went by the title Le Chéile, formed in the early 1970s by regulars at the sessions in The White Hart pub in Fulham Broadway. Members included Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell, Kevin Boyle, and PJ Crotty. This group released two albums, Lord Mayo in 1975 and Arís in 1978.
He released Navvy on the Shore, his first solo CD in 2000.

Paddy O’Brien: Composer of the Year
Paddy O’Brien was born in Daingean, Co. Offaly in 1945. He took up the accordion as a youngster and travelled widely, seeking out older players, honing his craft and carefully building up his repertoire.
Formative influences included Joe Delaney and Dan Cleary of Offaly, Galway fiddlers and composers Paddy Fahey and Eddie Kelly, Donegal fiddler John Doherty, Frank Mc Collum of Antrim, Seán Ryan from Tipperary and Johnny Henry from Mayo. He moved to Dublin in 1969 where he often played with Clare fiddlers Joe Ryan and John Kelly.
He has been living in Minneapolis since 1983 performing and teaching all over the United States.
One of his most popular compositions is Sarah’s Delight and this appeared on the classic 1978 LP entitled Is it Yourself?
Since then Paddy has composed almost 50 tunes spanning many dance forms within the tradition, 24 reels, 4 marches, 4 polkas, 1 slide, 9 jigs, 4 airs and 3 hornpipes.
In September 1994 he received a bursary from the US National Endowment for the Arts that enabled him to record the 500 tunes that comprise The Paddy O’Brien Tune Collection – Volume One: A Personal Treasury of Irish Traditional Music.
He has played and recorded with a number of different céilí bands and groups since the 1960s; The Ballinamere Céilí Band, The Seán Ryan Trio, The Castle Céilí Band, Ceoltóirí Laighean, Bowhand, Hill 16, and currently O’Rourkes Feast, Chulrua and The Doon Céilí Band. His most recent CD, Mixing the Punch, released in 2011 features Felim Egan on accordion and Teresa Baker on piano.

Nell Ní Chróinín: Singer of the Year
Nell Ní Chróinín is a young sean nós singer from Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh in the Múscraí Gaeltacht of northwest Cork. Her singing is very much a product of her environment and heritage with its mix of the infectiously light hearted with more serious songs.
Born in 1990, she inherited a musical tradition from both sides. Her parents Teddy and Síle both sing although rarely in public and there is a strong legacy of accordion playing in her family, stemming from her maternal grandfather and from her aunt the late Eilín Ní Ríordáin. One of Nell’s sisters plays the concertina and she has many musical cousins.
Nell has appeared on many television programmes such as Geantraí, Anam an Amhrán, Amhrán is ansa liom and Cérbh í? She has also made a number of recordings, guesting on the 2010 compilation Rogha Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy (singing Cath Chéim an Fhia); and on Raw Bar Collective 2011 (singing two songs – Cá Rabhais ar Feadh an Lae Uaim? and Na Táilliúirí).
She’s gives masterclasses at the University of Limerick and sung at many festivals in Ireland, England and in Switzerland.
She is the youngest ever recipient of the TG4 Singer of the Year award and she is currently working as a primary teacher in Gaelscoil Osraí in Kilkenny.

Brian and Eithne Vallely: TG4 Musicians’ Award
Brian and Eithne Vallely have been married for over 40 years are two of most important figures in traditional music in their local area for most of that time.
Brian plays pipes and flute and was born into a family with strong Gaelic associations in sport and the Irish language. Eithne who comes from a family of musicians that includes the respected Donegal fiddlers.
Eithne was a young teacher when she met Brian, a young artist and piper, when both were in Miltown Malbay to hear Willie Clancy. Brian set up the Armagh Pipers Club in 1966 and through this organisation it has taught traditional music to thousands of young people. It is modelled on the Dublin Pipers Club and not affiliated to any national body.
Initially the club gave classes in Armagh city and Markethill and then later in Co. Tyrone and Monaghan. Lessons are offered for singing, flutes, whistles, fiddles, harp and pipes as well as concertina and accordion.
At present the club has 250 learners on its books, with one fifth of these adult learners, taught by thirty three tutors who themselves had come through the pipers club. An instrument loan scheme, weekly sessions and a monthly children’s sessions all form part of their regular activities. In 2009, APC established a pipe-making workshop and educational visits and music tuition for schools, all of which contribute to raising the status of traditional music in the county.
The Armagh Pipers run the William Kennedy Festival of Piping, celebrating the local eighteenth-century blind pipe maker, which is held each year in November. This festival, which attracts participants from all over the world, features sessions, lectures, concerts, workshops, discussions and exhibitions on various piping themes and issues.
Working through some of the darkest years of the troubles, the Vallely’s dedication to traditional music has been both courageous and impressive. Of their five children Niall (concertina), Caoimhín (fiddle/piano) and Cillian (pipes) all play professionally.

More at TG4

This weekend Dublin City Hall plays host to a gala benefit concert for the Pecker Dunne. The event which takes place on Sunday, January 29 at 5pm, and is organised by writer, actor and Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn as part of this year’s Temple Bar Tradfest, aims to raise funds for Pecker. The singer, who turns 80 this year, is in poor health.
“But more importantly, it’s to honour the man,” Mannix Flynn told the Irish Times. “He has made an outstanding contribution to broader Irish society and culture. He’s not just a traditional player, he could compose – for me, he’s up there with Sean Ó Riada and Carolan. Also, we’re always ready to talk about integration, an equal society and cultural democracy, but Pecker is one of the very few examples of this: he gives voice to his community through his art.”
Born into a Traveller family, in compositions such as The Last Of The Travelling People and Wexford Town he sings powerfully and frankly about the lure and hardship of life on the road, speaking of his pride in his culture while lamenting its slow decline. He came from a distinct, disappearing tradition within the community, the Travelling musicians who would earn their living busking at fairs and football matches around the country.
These entertainers spoke their own variation of Cant, the Traveller language: The Pecker’s biography, entitled Parley-Poet And Chanter, is studded with the dialect. Their music was also distinctive.
“He bridged the worlds of Traveller music and the folk revival scene. The themes he sang about engaged with the folk world of the 1970s,” says Niall Keegan of the University of Limerick
The Pecker Dunne is in failing health and no longer performs: he will not be at Sunday’s gala, although his children will be playing the instruments and songs he taught them. And his peers will be there to pay tribute to his legacy as a songwriter, musician and singer.
“When an artist gets overlooked, it can end up being all about a tragic story. But we are trying to get to the contribution his music has made, bring it to a new generation and to acknowledge him while he is still in his boots,” says Mannix Flynn.
Pecker Dunne Biography

Tim McHugh

Flute player Tim McHugh from Newport in Mayo was announced as winner of the Seán Ó Riada gold medal and prize money of €2500 on Friday night. He was amongst 15 traditional flute and whistle players who took to the stage in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on Friday 13 January, 2012,  to compete in the final. The judges on the night were musicians Mary Bergin and Michael Tubridy, and they were joined by Matt Molloy via Skype from 1500 miles away in the Canary Islands.

Speaking of his win, Tim said that he was surprised but delighted to have won, and that he had greatly enjoyed the night and the atmosphere. Some of the other finalists on the night included friend and fellow Mayo man Ferdia Ó Mongáin, and Dubliner Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, so that ensured that there was a bit of friendly rivalry. Tim learned most of his music from friends and family, and plays a lot around Westport, as well as in Dingle, Galway and around Dublin where he currently lives and works as an engineer.

The 15 finalists were chosen from among over 60 musicians from all over the world who entered the competition on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta programme Cuireadh chun Ceoil, and included a Lutheran priest Markus Asunta from Finland, young Irish American musician Sean Gavin from Detroit, and award-winning Scottish guitarist and flute player Tom Oakes.
Peadar Ó Riada inaugurated the competition two years ago, taking the idea from his father, the great Seán Ó Riada, who ran a similar competition on his radio programme in the sixties. Its aim is to bring the worldwide family of listeners to his Cuireadh chun Ceoil programme closer, using modern technology that allows people to easily record and transmit music at little cost. The competition sets itself apart from others in that it rewards musicality and creativity in playing, not just technical proficiency, as can sometimes be the case. For the coming year the competition will be open to pipes and harp.

The judges on the night were all highly respected musicians. Mary Bergin, originally from Dublin but now living in Galway, is considered one of the masters of the tin whistle. She has played in various groups over the years, including Dé Danann, and is currently a member of Dordán. Michael Tubridy is a gifted musician from Clare and was one of the founders of the Chieftains. Matt Molloy needs little introduction. Originally from Roscommon, but now resident in Westport, Matt is a member of The Chieftains, was one of the founders of The Bothy Band in the seventies and also played with Planxty.

You can listen back to the competition at www.rte.ie/rnag.

The Seán Ó Riada medal has been designed by Cashel goldsmith Pádraig Ó Mathúna and features an engraving of Ó Riada on one side, and a representation of the poem Dán Aimhirgín (Song of Amergin) on the other, done in a La Tene style. The medal consists of 2 silver plates back to back, and following the competition on Friday Pádraig will engrave the winners name and the year into the medal, and it will then be coated in gold.

Updated weekly

Dates, venues, locations and weblinks for Irish traditional music, singing festivals, summer schools and workshops for 2012

Last updated: Monday, December 10, 2012.

For a list of Comhaltas fleadhanna, click Here

Please note: Where the 2012 dates are not yet available, the 2011 dates are indicated.

January

Shannonside Winter Music Weekend
Sixmilebridge, Co Clare
January12 – 15
http://www.wmw.ie

Temple Bar Trad Festival
Dublin
January 25 – 29
www.templebartrad.com

Ballincollig Winter Music Festival
Ballincollig, Co Cork
January 25 – 29
http://www.whitehorse.ie/

Merriman Winter School
Hotel Westport, Co Mayo
January 27 – 29
www.merriman.ie

Feis na nGael
Baile Atha Cliath
Eanair 27 – 28
www.feisnangael.com/

February

Tradfest
Cork
February 9 – 11
http://www.ucctradsoc.com/

Ceol Chairlinn
Carlingford, Co Louth
February 3 – 5
http://www.carlingfordbeds.com/

Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh,
Ballyferriter,
Co Kerry
February 15 – 19
http://www.scoilcheoil.com

The Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music
Kinvara, Co Galway
February 16 – 18
www.josephbrowne.org

The 11th Gathering, Gleneagles Hotel
Killarney
February 22 – 26
www.thegathering.ie

Micho Russell Festival Weekend
Doolin, Co Clare
February 24 – 26
www.michorussellweekend.ie

Corofin Traditional Music Festival
Co Clare
February 27 – March 4
www.corofintradfest.com

John Joe Maguire Memorial Festival Weekend
Swanlinbar, Co. Cavan
March 2 – 4
www.johnjoemaguire.com

Nyah Festival
Cavan, March 2 – 18
www.cavanmusic.com

Seachtain na Gaelige

Galway. March 5 – 17
http://snag.ie/lang/gd-ie/

Roosky Trad Fest
Co Roscommon
March 11 – 13
http://www.rooskeytradfest.ie/

St Patrick’s Festival
Dublin
March 16 – 19
http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/

Fado Festival
Bantry, Co Cork
March 16 – 18
bantry.ie

Feis na nGael
Baile Atha Cliath
March 23 – 24
feisnangael.com/

Inishowen International Folk Song and Ballad Seminar
Co Donegal
March 23 – 26
http://www.inishowensinging.ie/

Glengarriff Free Spirit Festival
Glengarriff
Co Cork
March 14 – 18
Facebook Page

Ceardlann Earraigh
Celbridge
Co Kildare, March 31
www.ceardlannearraigh.com

Ballydehob Traditional Music, Song and Dance Festival

Co Cork, March 30 – April 1
www.ballydehobtradfestival.com/

Feile Patrick Byrne
Carrickmacross
Co Monaghan
March 29 – April 1

www.myspace.com/patrickbyrnefestival

3rd Annual Clifden Traditional Music Festival
Clifden, Co. Galway
April 13 – 15
www.clifdentradfest.com

The Shindig Festival of Set Dancing and Traditional Music
Tralee
April 20 – 22
http://www.shindigfestival.com/

Granard Traditional Harp Festival
Granard
Co Longford
Cancelled 2011
www.harp.net/granard/index.html

Pan Celtic Festival,
Carlow
April 10 – 15
http://www.panceltic.ie/

Sean Nos Cois Life
Dublin
April 20 – 22
http://www.seannos.ie/

Cruinniu na bhFliuit (The Flute Meeting)
Ballyvourney, Co Cork
April 12 – 14
http://www.flutemeet.org/

Kilfenora Music Festival
Kilfenora, County Clare
April 26 – 29

Kilfenora Site

Feile Comortha Joe Einniu
Carna
Co Galway
May 4 – 7
http://www.joeheaney.org/default.asp?contentID=1

Feile na nDeise
Dungarvan, Co Waterford
May 3 – 7
www.feilenandeise.com

Fleadh na gCuach
Kinvara, Co Galway
May 4 – 7
http://www.kinvara.com/cuckoo/

Feile Chois Cuain
Louisburgh, Co Mayo
May 4 – 7

http://www.feilechoiscuain.com/

The Cup of Tae Traditional Festival
Ardara, Co Donegal
May 4 – 7
www.cupoftaefestival.com

Feile Oriel
Monaghan
May 4 – 7
http://www.feileoriel.com/

Bealtaine Festival of Fire
Uisneach, Co Westmeath
May 5
http://www.festivalofthefires.com/

PJ Hayes Memorial Festival
Feakle
Co Clare. May 4 – 6
Phone: +353 (0)61 92 4885

Clare Events

Baltimore Fiddle Fair
Baltimore, Co Cork
May 9 – 13
www.fiddlefair.com

The Larkin Hedge School
Liberty Hall
Dublin
May 10 – 12

Cle Club

Cos Cos Sean Nos Festival
Rathcormack, Co Sligo
May 11 – 13
http://www.coscos.ie/

Fleadh Nua
Ennis, Co Clare
May 20 – 28
www.fleadhnua.com

Skerries Trad Weekend
Co Dublin

May 18 – 20

www.skerriestraditonalmusic.com

Mick, Michael & Pat Carr Memorial Weekend
Meenaneary, Co Donegal
June1 – 3. Contact:  odonnellsbar@hotmail.com

The Clancy Brothers Music Festival
Carrick-on-Suir
Co Tipperary
June 4 – 5
http://www.clancybrothersfestival.org/

Clareen Traditional Music Weekend
Clareen, Co Offaly
June 8 – 10

John Fowler: 087 6835528

The Galway Sessions
Galway
June 10 – 17

galwaysessions.com

Fastnet Maretime and Folk Festival
Ballydehob, Co Cork
June 15 – 17
Webpage

Eigse Ui Ghramhnaigh
Baile Atha Bui
Co na Mi
June 22 – 24
www.athbui.com/

Blas
Limerick University
June 25 – July 6t

www.blas.ie

Con Curtin Music Festival
Brosna
Co Kerry
June 24 – 26 (2011 Dates)

http://www.concurtinmusicfestival.com/

Celtic Fusion Int. Musical Arts Festival
Castlewellan
Co Down
June 29 – July 1
http://www.celticfusion.co.uk

Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival
Westport, Co Mayo
June 29 – July 1
www.colemanbodhran.com

Coleman Country Bodhran School
Gurteen, County Sligo
July 2 – 6
www.colemanbodhran.com

Willie Clancy Summer School
Miltown Malbay,
Co Clare
July 7 – 15

email: angleann@oceanfree.net

Earagail Arts Festival
Co Donegal. July 7 – 22
http://www.eaf.ie/

Douglas Hyde Summer School
Ballaghaderreen
Cancelled
http://www.douglashyde.com

South Sligo Summer School
Tubbercurry, Co Sligo
July 15 – 21
www.sssschool.org

Meitheal Summer School
Limerick
July 16 – 20
www.tradweek.com

Joe Mooney Summer School
Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim
July 21 – 28
www.joemooneysummerschool.com

Fiddlers Green Festival
Rostrevor, Co Down
July 22 – 29
http://www.fiddlersgreenfestival.co.uk

Phil Murphy Weekend
Carrig-on-Bannon
Co Wexford
July 26 – 29
www.philmurphyweekend.com

James Byrne Fiddle Summer School
Glencolmcille
Co Donegal
July 17 – 23 (2011 dates)

http://www.ceolsaghleann.com/

O’Carolan Summer School
Keadue, Co Roscommon
July 29 – Aug 3
Website

Scoil Acla
Achill, Co Mayo
July 30 – Aug 5
http://www.scoilacla.com

Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Festival
Co Donegal
August 2 – 5
http://www.ballyshannonfolkfestival.com

O’Carolan Harp Festival
Keadue, Co Roscommon
Aug 3 – 5
Website

Feakle International Traditional Music Festival
Co Clare
August 8 – 13
www.feaklefestival.ie

James Morrison Traditional Music Festival
Riverstown, Co Sligo
July 3 – 6

Comhaltas Page

Kilcar Fleadh
Co Donegal
August 4 – 11
http://www.cill-chartha-kilcar.com

Kilrush Traditional Music and Set Dancing Festival
Kilrush, Co Clare
August 8 – 12
Discover Ireland (Note: Reported Web attacks on page’s link to Kilrush CCE Org)

Masters of Tradition
Bantry, Co Cork
August 15 – 19
http://www.westcorkmusic.ie

Scoil Eigse
Cavan Town
August 12 0 17
http://comhaltas.ie/events/calendar/2012/08

Merriman Summer School
Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare,
August 15 – 19
www.merriman.ie

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann
Cavan Town
August 10 – 20
www.fleadhcheoil.ie

Coleman Traditional Festival
Gurteen, Co Sligo
August 23 – 26
www.colemanirishmusic.com

Gig’n the Bann
Portglenone, Co Antrim
September 6 – 9

http://www.gignthebann.com/

Nell Galvin Traditional Irish Music Festival
Kilrush
Co Clare
Aug 31 – Sept 2
http://www.nellgalvin.com/schedule.html

Dingle Tradfest
Dingle
Co Kerry
September 6 – 9
http://www.dingletradfest.com/

Tulla Traditional Music Festival
Co Clare
September 7 – 9
www.tullatradfestival.ie

Gerry Whelan Memorial Weekend
Cootehill, Co Cavan
September 14 – 16

www.gerrywhelanweekend.com

Tuam Trad Festival
Co Galway
September 14 – 16
www.tuamtradfestival.com

Frank Harte Festival
Teachers Club, Parnell Sq., Dublin
September 21 – 23
http://www.goilin.com/

Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival
Tullamore, Co Offaly
September 20 – 23
http://www.johnnykeenan.com

Kilkenny Celtic Festival
Sept 28 – Oct – 2 (2011 dates)
www.celticfestival.ie

Johnny Doherty Music & Dancing Festival
Ardara
Co Donegal
September 21 – 23
http://www.ardara.ie/

Sligo Traditional Singing Weekend
Rosses Point, Co Sligo
Sept 28 – 30
http://www.sligotradsingers.ie/

Cork Folk Festival
Cork
October 3 – 7
www.corkfolkfestival.com

Sean ‘ac Dhonncha Tribute Festival
Ahascragh, Co Galway
October 1 – 2 (2011 dates)
Website

Feile Frank McGann
Strokestown, Co Roscommon
October 12 – 14
www.feilefrankmcgann.com

Scoil Cheoil na Botha
Scotstown
Co Monaghan
October 12 – 14
http://www.anbhoth.ie

Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival
Castleisland, Co Kerry
October 26 – 29
http://www.patrickokeeffe.net/

Sligo Live
Sligo Town
October 24 – 29
http://www.sligolive.ie/

South Roscommon Singers Festival
Knockcroghery,
Co Roscommon
October 22 – 24 (2010 dates)
http://www.dhalonproductions.ie

Return to Fingal – Scoil Sheamuis Ennis
Seamus Ennis Centre
Fingal,
Co Dublin
October 27 – 31
http://www.scoilsheamuisennis.com

Willie Keane Memorial Weekend
Doonbeg, Co Clare
October 26 – 29
www.williekeanememorialweekend.com

Cooley-Collins Traditional Music Weekend
Gort, Co Galway
October 25 – 29
http://cooleycollinstradfest.com/

Oireachtas na Samhna
Leitir Ceanainn
Co Dun na nGall
Deire Fomhair 30 Samhain 4
www.antoireachtas.ie

Clare Festival of Traditional Singing
Bellbridge Hotel
Spanish Point
November 18 – 20 (2011 dates)
aandjoreilly@gmail.com or Annette Munnelly: 065 7084365. See Mudcat
Ennis Traditional Festival
Co Clare
November 8 – 12
Facebook Page

William Kennedy Piping Festival
Armagh
November 15 – 18
http://www.armaghpipers.com/wkpf/

December
Frankie Kennedy Winter School
Dunlewey
Gaoth Dobhair
Co Donegal
December 27 – January 1
http://www.frankiekennedy.com/en

=====================

Shannonside Winter Music Weekend
Sixmilebridge, Co Clare
January17 – 20, 2013
http://www.wmw.ie

Temple Bar Trad Festival
Dublin
January 22 – 27, 2013
www.templebartrad.com

Ballincollig Winter Music Festival
Ballincollig, Co Cork
January 25 – 29 (2012 dates)
http://www.whitehorse.ie/

Merriman Winter School
Hotel Westport, Co Mayo
January 27 – 29 (2012 dates)
www.merriman.ie

Feis na nGael
Baile Atha Cliath
Eanair 27 – 28 (2012 dates)
www.feisnangael.com/

February

The Concertina Cruinniu
Miltown Malbay, Co Clare
February 8 – 10, 2013
http://update.oac.ie/concertinacruinniu

The 14th Gathering, Gleneagles Hotel
Killarney
February 20 – 24, 2013
www.thegathering.ie

April

Kenmare Irish Music Festival (Feile an Neidin)
Kenmare, Co Kerry
April 5 – 7 (2013)
www.kenmareirishmusicfestival.com

August

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann
Derry
August 12 – 18, 2013
http://2013fleadh.ie/

Meitheal Summer School
Limerick
July 22 – 26
www.tradweek.com

An American cable channel is making a reality TV series about children who dedicate their lives to Irish dancing competitions.
The eight-part series, to be called Irish Dancing Tweens, will follow children from dance schools and classes across America as they rehearse and perform in feiseanna.
TLC, formerly known as The Learning Channel, will broadcast the series in the USA next summer before showing it on international channels.
TLC say the came up with the idea after the success of Jig, the documentary about dancers preparing for the 2010 Irish Dance Championships. TLC has hired Sue Bourne, the director of Jig, as a consultant on Irish Dancing Tweens. The network has also acquired the rights to air the documentary.
Thanks to Michael Flatley and Riverdance, said Sue, “There must be half a million Irish dancers worldwide and a lot of them are in America.”
“TLC is excited to share this subculture of dance with our audience,” TLC’s General Manager Amy Winter said in the statement. “Irish jig (sic) dancing is a global phenomenon and the series will reveal the world behind the sport in a compelling combination of heart and competition.”
”The network is known for series like “19 Kids and Counting,” “Extreme Couponing” and, in particular, “Toddlers and Tiaras,” which has been criticised as being tacky and exploitative.

Traditional Irish music sessions have long been a great way of spending a night out. Nearly every village, town and city in Ireland will have a session going on in some pub, some night of the week. Combining a night out on the town, with good music and good conversation, it’s no wonder Irish trad sessions are famous the world over. Not only is a trad session entertaining for music lovers but often, it is also for the musicians.
One of the more compelling reasons to learn to play traditional Irish music is participating in sessions. A brilliant social outlet, it provides the opportunity to meet different musicians from different areas and hear their style of playing. It’s also a great way of learning new tunes. If someone is playing a tune you don’t know, record it on your phone and you’ll have it learned for the next week!
For those who cannot play but love to listen, you can enjoy a night out, with excellent entertainment and (usually) no charge on the door. In a time when you get nothing for free and more than ever we need to look after our pennies, what better way to spend an evening then sit and listen to wonderful musicians in a relaxed atmosphere.
Recently, I went to Inishbofin, a small island off the coast of Galway. Some great singers and musicians have come from Inishboffin, such as Andrew Murray, who sang with Irish group De Dannan. The Murray family hotel, The Doonmore, is renowned for its Irish music sessions. It opens March through to the end of September and it is well worth a visit if you like your trad. That is where we decided to head for the weekend and so we got the boat over.
There was a mix of musicians, both local and visiting, among which were two pipers, one from Longford and one from Cavan, an accordion player from Longford and a fiddle player from Galway.

We had a great sing-along at the end of the night lead by Luke Murray, son of Andrew. Just like his father he has a wonderful voice and sang a number of songs both traditional and more popular, the names of which I can’t place now.  All in all it was a great night. The mix of musicians, visitors and friendly banter in the pub resulted in a relaxed and fun atmosphere and it’s certainly a spot I would like to head back to in the future.
If you are looking for sessions in Ireland check out www.findtradfolk.com. This new website was recently launched and finds traditional Irish music sessions all over Ireland. Enter a county, town or day into the search box or check out the calendar to see what festivals and events are coming up.

Paddy Glackin was told he would have to buy a seat for his fiddle on a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Newcastle and nearly missed a music festival in the North of England city.
The highly regarded fiddle player has travelled all over the world with his fiddle and had always been allowed to take it onboard the plane and store it in an overhead locker. But to his shock Ryanair made the seat demand.
The trip ended up costing him £850 as there were no extra seats for his fiddle so he had to board another flight.
Paddy explained: “The organisers had paid an £80 surcharge so I could take the instrument onboard from Dublin to Newcastle.
“The check-in staff said it had to go in the hold as it was an inch too long and paying the extra charge only entitled me to the same rights as for sports equipment.
“There are no fiddlers that would allow you to put it in the hold – it’s not suitable to be in that environment as it is too delicate. I tried to explain my case and they just said tough, that’s the way it is.”
Unable to board the flight, which had cost £293.79 for a return ticket, the organisers had to find an alternative way of bringing the performer to Newcastle. Paddy eventually boarded an Aer Lingus flight to Edinburgh – costing another £268 – then board a train – priced £26 – to travel.
When he returned home on the Ryanair flight, he made sure he strapped his fiddle in the seat he had paid for.
Paddy added: “If it’s going to start costing performers double the fee to come across, venues won’t book us and that could deprive people of hearing the music.”
A spokesman for Ryanair said they felt charging £80 to put an instrument in the hold or forcing musicians to buy a separate seat was fair.
“Ryanair’s website, booking confirmation page and the emailed itinerary which is sent to every passenger is very clear in relation to the carriage of musical instruments,” he said.
“Smaller musical items, such as a guitar, violin or viola which exceed our cabin baggage dimensions may be carried in the cabin but only if an extra seat has been purchased to accommodate the instrument. This policy ensures such instruments, which can be expensive, remain with the owner/passenger.”
Recalling his experience. Paddy said: “I left Dublin at 6.30 am last Saturday morning and, after flying with Aer Lingus to Edinburgh I got a train down and arrived in Newcastle at 7.20 pm. I went on stage not too long after that.”
He added: “The whole episode left me demented and bewildered. It’s the first time this has ever happened to me on Ryanair or any other airline.”
The Session thread on Ryanair and fiddles.

Muiris O Rochain, one of the founders of the annual Willie Clancy Summer School in Co Clare, has died.
He was born in 1944 to publicans and shopkeepers Jim and Nora Rohan of John Street, Dingle, Co Kerry.  After qualifying as a teacher, he taught in Cahersiveen and Waterville where he also collected folklore from local Irish speakers.
He went to work in Dublin and there he formed a lasting friendship with Breandán Breathnach, music collector and scholar, and with John Kelly, the great fiddle and concertina player from west Clare.
In 1970, Muiris married Úna Guerin of Miltown Malbay and moved to Spanish Point where taught maths and Irish at St Joseph’s secondary school and this part of Clare became his home for the next 40 years.

He is best known for his work as overall director of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy. He was a great friend of the piper and after his death Muiris, along with Martin Talty and Harry Hughes, among others, set up the summer school in 1973 in his honour. In 1972 he helped found and run the Dal gCais journal which, over the years, featured many aspects of North Clare’s rich life and lore.

He had an important role in the production of three films for RTE: My Own Place, producede in 1980 by accordion player Tony MacMahon, Cur agus Cuiteamh (1990) and The Story of the Dingle Wren (1991).
In 2001 he was selected as President of Oireachtas na Gaeilge, and he continued to make a massive contribution to Irish traditional music. In 2010 he received the TG4 musicians’ award.

In Dingle he will be best remembered as the captain of the Sraid Eoin Wren, first stepping into the role in 1959. He continued to lead the Sraid Eoin Wren until he became ill in September 2010.

Muiris O Rochain died on October 17, 2011. He is survied by his wife Una, son Seamus and daughter Máire and extended family.

Harry Hughes in a tribute told the Irish Times that “Muiris leaves behind a tremendous legacy to Miltown Malbay and to Irish music and culture in general”.

Said Miltown Malbay concertina player Edel Fox: “He had his own inimitable way of running the festival. There was no Facebook or website. I know for a fact that Muiris still documented everything with a pen and paper. Telephone, pen and paper; that’s how he ran Willie Clancy week. There isn’t another person that could run a festival of that magnitude the way he did.”

The 67-year-old Dingle native suffered a stroke last year and Mr Hughes said “people were delighted to see Muiris at a number of events at the summer school this year even though he was in a wheelchair.

“Muiris bore his illness with tremendous courage and dignity.”