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Irish music news is now carried on the Ramblinghouse Frontpage

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Tuesday June 9, 2009
Paddy Slattery of the famous music pub on Dublin's Capel Street passsed away on June 4. Slatterys Pub was one of the premier venues for ballads and traditional music in the 1960s. Among those to perform there were Paddy Keenan, The Pavees, Tony MacMahon, Joe Heaney, Noel Hill and Planxty. Christy Moore has a short piece on his website.

Sunday June 7
Hibernian Rhapsody has morphed into the "reformed" De Dannan. Hibernian Rhapsody was made up of : Frankie Gavin, Michelle Lally, Damien Mullane, Mike Galvin, Eric Cunningham and Carl Hession. All bar Carl Hession make up the  new De Dannan. The group will launch at the World Fleadh in Castlebar on August 5.

Friday June 5

Clannad singer Moya Brennan is to host a major new series on Irish music for American PBS TV. Sunday Tribune

Singer songwriter Jimmy MacCarthy ('Ride On', 'Missing You') is back on stage after a five year gap. Sunday Independent.

Friday May 29

Dublin singer Damien Dempsey, who sings in the Sidney Opera House next week,  makes a strong connection with Down Under and the migrant life. Sidney Morning Herald

The Kilfenora Ceili Band, Lunasa and Cora Smith and her Band all take to the stage at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Glastonbury Lineup

Monday May 25
Set dance teacher and owner of the famous pub in Knocknagree, Co Cork, Dan O'Connell, has died. Irish Examiner

Thursday May 21
De Dannan are set to reunite for a once-off performance at the World Fleadh in Castlebar in August. Breaking News
Whelans, one of Dublin's top music venues, is to open in London - and maybe later in New York. Irish Post

Tuesday May 19, 2009
The legendary toothless gap is no more. Shane McGowan has been photographed in Spain sporting shining white new dentures. Cruel jokes abound. Still, if he stands up to the slagging, he may yet enter Eurovision, singing 'The Broad Mathethic Thannon.' Daily Mail. Also: The Sessions 'discussion'

Sunday May 17
You can now vote in the Irish Traditional and Folk Music Awards, part of the World Fleadh in Castlebar in August. Vote Here

Thursday May 14
Taka Hayasi had never danced, but after seeing Riverdance in his native Tokyo he quit his IT job at 28 and in time ended up in the Riverdance  troupe. Irish Times.

Wednesday May 13
Some 10,000 dancers are summoned to Ennis this Sunday (May 17) from 2 – 4 pm to dance the Siege of Ennis and set a new world record. The event coincides with the opening of Fleadh Nua and is in aid of the Special Olympics Fund. Music by the Kilfenora Ceili Band. Website
( Result: rain washed out play and only 6,000 turned up)

Former Stockton's Wing banjo player and presenter of Radio Eireann's Ceili House, Kieran Hanrahan has been appointed programmer of Dublin's Temple Bar Music Festival, held every January.

Monday May 11
The Dubliners will mark the memory of Ciaran Bourke, Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew at a special concert titled ‘A Time to Remember’ in Vicar Street, Dublin, on July 4. Read More

Saturday May 9
Christy Moore is top of the Irish album charts for the second week with Listen. In second place is Bob Dylan. The last time a traditional or folk album topped the Irish bestsellers’ list  was Sharon Shannon’s  Galway Girl compilation CD  last summer.
Friday May 8
Singer Martha Wainright is one of the first acts booked into the Sligo Live Festival which takes place this year from October 22 - 26. Sligo Live
Johnny McEvoy's new album Never Smelt the Roses is out and available at his Website.
Wednesday May 6
Mairtin O Connor, joined by Cathal Hayden,  adds in old timey, gypsy and classical alongside traditional tunes on his new album Crossroads. Irish Times interview.
The Foxrock Folk Club - a contradiction in terms, joked Luke Kelly when he performed there in 1972 - celebrates its 40th anniversary with a special concert in the Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, next month. Hot Press
Friday May 1
Australian-based Scottish singer/songwriter Eric Bogle will be touring Ireland in mid-July, taking in Dublin, Donegal, Tullamore, Belfast and the Fiddlers Green fest in Rostrevor. Details at Bogle's website.
Feile Joe Einniu, celebrating the great sean nos singer Joe Heaney who died 25 years ago, takes place in his native Carna, Co Galway, this weekend. michealocuaig@hotmail.com
Sunday April 26
Con Curtin, the colourful fiddle player from Brosna in Co Kerry and formerly of London, has died. Funeral in Brosna on Tuesday.
Saturday April 25
The Chieftains, the Dubliners, the Wolf Tones, Sharon Shannon and the Kilfenora Ceili Band are among the names mentioned for a proposed concert in the national stadium in Berne on  July 25 to raise funds for a foundation in memory of Manuela Reido, the young Swiss student murdered in Galway last summer. Irish Times
Friday April 24
Sharon Shannon, Mairtin O'Connor and Kila will be among those performing for free during the Galway Volvo Ocean Race Stopover, from May 23 - June 6. Also: Trad on the Prom and La Gaeilge. Festival Site
Thursday April 23
The Galway music scene will have a colourful addition this summer when popular Belfast flute player the Rev Gary Hasting takes up the rectorship of St Nicholas historic church in the city centre. Story and Profile
Interesting interview with Toner Quinn, editor of The Journal of Music in the Irish Times today.
Christy Moore writes about Tina Turner, the meaning of life, everything . . . in his latest Epistle
Singer Damien Dempsey will headline the new Rock 'D' Lough Festival in Slane on Saturday August 29. More at Hot Press

Thursday April 9
The Kilfenora Ceili Band is one of the first acts to commit to a charity concert in Basle in July in aid of the Manuela Reido Foundation, set up in memory of the 17-year-old Swiss student who was sexually assaulted and murdered in Galway in 2007. Irish Times report
Friday April 4
After 31 distinguished years, the Francis McPeake School of Music in Belfast is facing financial difficulties and in danger of closing unless it can raise funding. http://www.francismcpeake.com/
Mick Fitzgerald has been at the heart of the Dublin ballad scene since the year dot. He has a new album out  - Damage Limitation. www.mickfitzgerald.com
It's not all about the Galway Girl. The song's writer Steve Earle along with Ramblin' Jack Elliott will be performing at the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival from September 24 - 27 in Longford.

Wednesday April 1
The Kilfenora Ceili Band celebrate their first 100 years with a series of entertaining events in Co Clare from April 23 - 26. More Here
Dervish play a charity concert for the Special Olympics Association at Mahons Hotel, Irvingstown, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, on April 17. Dervish website

Monday March 30
Connemara sean-nos dancer Seosamh O Neachtain has been appointed the first ever sean-nos Dancer in Residence at Galway University. He will be giving a series of workshops at the college starting Tuesday April 7 at 7pm. http://www.nuigalway.ie/

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Friday March 27
Girsa, a well-connected teenage, all-female group out of New York have just released their debut CD. IrishCentral
Thursday March 26
Damien Dempsey tops the Hot Press Readers' Poll in the Folk/Trad category, followed by 2 -Kila; 3 - Colm Mac an Iomaire; 4 - Martin Hayes; 5 - Sharon Shannon.
Pete Seeger will be 90 on May 3 next. Linked to the campaign for the Nobel Prize to be given to the folk legend is a move to have that date designated "For Pete's Sake - Sing!" with concerts coordinated around the world. More at Mudcat

Tuesday March 24
Two giants of folk, Andy Irvine and Dick Gaughan, will perform together at the Arts Guild Theatre, Greenock, Scotland, on June 23 next.
Crosshaven Folk Club in Co Cork have a new website. It includes a list of upcoming events. Club Site
Mick Moloney, Athena Tergis and step dancer Niall O'Leary will perform in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Saturday next to raise funds for Agent Orange/Dioxin victims. Details

Monday March 23
Interesting to hear Galway Girl ring out before 80,000 fans after Ireland won the Rugby Grand Slam (think European Superbowl) in Cardiff on Saturday. Irish fans were heard singing the song in the streets before the match. But . . . can't see it overtaking The Fields of Athenry as a sports anthem.
Christy Moore did his bit for the cause when he entertained the Irish squad to a private session last week as part of coach Declan Kidney's preparations. Christy's new album Listen is due out on April 17.

Thursday March 19
Sharon Shannon paid an emotional tribute to her late partner Leo Healy when she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Meteor Music Achievement Awards ceremony in Dublin. More Here
Wednesday March 18
Lots written about Irish music around St Patrick's Day: most interesting is the Chinese band Dublingers who were inspired by the music and dance scene in Titanic - See Reuters. Also: very informative feature on fiddler Brian Conway in the New York Times.
Tuesday March 17
You didn't read it here . . . but you can now get Clancy Brothers ringtones. Click Here
And The Dubliners, Chieftains, Bothy Band, Planxty, Christy Moore and etc.
Seamus Creagh obit at Musical Traditions .
Monday March 16
The Cork-based fiddler Seamus Creagh died yeaterday. He hailed originally from Co Westmeath.
Friday March13
De Danann is to get a new lease of life. Expect an announcement from Frankie Gavin before the end of the month.
The Kilfenora Ceili Band reckons it is 100 years old this year and will give a centenary concert in the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Monday next, starting 8 pm. More at NCH
Wednesday March 11
Maggie McCarthy (23), from Dripsey, Co Cork, will showcase her finely honed ability to dance while playing the fiddle for US president Barack Obama on St Patrick's Day as part of the traditional Irish celebration at the White House. More Here
Moya Brennan embarks on a British tour starting this Friday and continuing until March 29. Tour schedule
The Journal of Music, now minus "in Ireland" in the title, has a rich and splendid new website
Monday March 9
Tommy Peoples will take part in a fundraising concert in Ennis on March 13 in aid of the Flowing Tide Music School in Doonbeg, West Clare, which has become a casualty of the recession and now faces threat of closure. Full story:Clare People
The Clancy Brothers Music Festival is to be inaugurated in their home town of Carrick-on-Suir. It will run from June 12 - 15. Festival Website

Thursday March 5
There was anger among the families of Ronnie Drew and Robert McCartney after the pub in Belfast where McCartney was murdered by IRA members was renamed after the popular Dublin singer. More Here
With a new CD out, Seamus Begley and Jim Murray are off to Australia where they play at the Port Fairy Folk Festival this weekend. More Here
Wednesday March 4
Let the record show . . . . Doc Watson turned 86 this week (March 2).
Kinvara Area Musicians is a very useful web guide with links to musicians in the south Galway, north Clare area.
Tuesday March 3
Contenders for the Longest Ever Band Name Award, the Liverpool Irish Patriots Republican Flute Band has just launced its first CD titled Rebels from the Mersey. More at Irish World.
Details of this year's Willie Clancy Summer School (July 4 - 12) at Set Dancing News website.

Monday March 2
Colourful Sligo flute player Seamus Tansey is back in the wars after suggesting serious evolutionaly shortcomings among the populace of Co Mayo village Bonniconlon. See Western People report.
Saturday February 28
Jim Page's song Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette was a big Moving Hearts number. He's returning to Ireland and will be in De Barras, Clonakilty, March 1, The Crane, Galway (4), Boyles Bar, Slane, Co Meath (5), Community Hall, Avoca, Co Wicklow, (6) and the Seamus Ennis Centre, Fingal, (7).

Unoccupied Minds is a performance night on March 16 in Dublin's Vicar Street in support of Aid for Palestine. Taking part will be Stephen Rea, Sinead Cusack, Roisin Elsafty, Christy Moore and others. http://www.irishantiwar.org

Christy Moore returns to England in May with gigs in London, Manchester, Gateshead and Birmingham.  In October he plays Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth and Barrowland. He has a new single out The Ballad of Ruby Walsh (you have to be into horseracing, Kildare etc.)

Thursday February 26
Boherbue swept to national success once again in the All Ireland Scor na nOg Finals hosted in the Count John McCormack Centre in Athlone last Saturday. Scor Report
Wednesday February 25
A new three-part TV documentary on some of the extraordinary people who collected Irish music, from 18th - 20th century, starts on TG4 on Wednesday 4th March at 9.30pm. Sean Corcoran presents. More at The Sessions
Tuesday February 24
Actor cum banjo player Steve Martin has been joined on his album, The Crow: New Songs For The 5-String Banjo, by piper Liam O Floinn and singer Mary Black. More Here
Wednesday February 18
Michael Foster of the duo Foster and Allen was in court in Mullingar yesterday appealing a tax fine of 12,000 euro. He told the court that he had received a forged letter on Revenue notepaper saying his tax affairs were in order. Court Report
Tuesday February 17
Comhaltas boss Labhras O Murchu (Fianna Fail) has accused Opposition Fine Gael of conducting “a vendetta” against it in claiming its State funding lacked transparency. CCE receives at least 7 million euro from the State. More Here and Update Here
Saturday February 14
After hitting the headlines last year by banning Danny Boy in his pub on St Patrick's Day because he found it too depressing, publican Shaun Clancy, owner of Foley's Pub in New York, is taking a new approach this year. He is holding a competition for revised lyrics or an up tempo version of the song. Details Here
The Linenhall in Castlebar, Co Mayo, features a double bill of folk and traditional music with John Hoban and Sharon Murphy on February 26 at 8pm. Booking 094 9023733.

Saturday February 7
"A great light gone out," was how  Lillis O Laoire described the Connemara sean-nos singer Ciaran O Con Cheanainn who has died suddenly at the age of 27. Only last year, Ciaran became the youngest ever winner of  Corn Ui Riada. More Here
Friday February 6
Christy Moore's new album, Listen, is due out on April 17. It will include a song from Declan Sinnott.
This is only the start of it! Hot Springs Arkansas have chosen There’s no one as Irish As Barack Obama as the theme song for their St Patricks Day parade this year.
Thursday February 5
The TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2009 winners have been announced. They are-
Traditional Musician of the Year: Charlie Harris
Young Traditional Musician of the Year: Conor McEvoy
Composer of the Year: Con Fada O Drisceoil
Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Sherlock
Traditional Singer of the Year: Sarah Anne O'Neill
Musicians’ Award: Reg Hall

Altan's Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh is set to release her debut solo album. Titled  Imeall - which means 'edge' - it will be produced in a limited edition run of just 3,000 copies and goes on sale on Friday week. Altan website
Saturday January 31
Figures from Chart Track, which compiles the official Irish music chart for the Irish Recorded Music Association, show that sales of music in the Irish market fell by 14 per cent last year.

Time for a remould? Then take yourself off to the Irish Music Retreat in Texas this October. More Here
Friday January 30
Influential folk singer John Martyn, originally from Britian but resident in Kilkenny for many years, has died aged 60. More Here
Wednesday January 28
Sharon Shannon is to receive the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award" at this year's Meteor Ireland Music Awards, which take place at the RDS Dublin on St Patrick's Day. Damien Dempsey is among four nominees for Best Male Singer.
Wednesday January 21
An album in memory of the singer Mícheál Ó Domhnaill - compiled by his sisters Triona and Maighread  - has been released. More Here

Tuesday January 20
Fiddler Liam O’Connor and piper Seán McKeon, who play the Temple Bar Tradfest later this month, come from two of Dublin’s most famous musical families, but their new CD sees them putting their own stamp on the tradition. More Here
Saturday January 17
Co Down singer Fil Campbell next month tours Northern Ireland, England and Scotland with a repertoire that focuses on Irish folk songs of the 1930s and 40s. More Here
Thursday January 15
DATES for the 2009 World Bodhran Championships in Milltown, Co Kerry, have been announced. The event will again take place on the June bank holiday weekend running from May 29 to June 1. More Here

January 14
Compass have reissued three Irish traditional classic albums: The Bothy Band, Molloy, Brady & Peoples, and Mairtin O'Connor's The Connachtman's Rambles. More Here

IRISH MUSIC "has always been a shining light through the dark times", actor Stephen Rea said as he unveiled details of  the Temple Bar traditional music festival yesterday. Read More
A large group of Irish musicians travelled to New York this week to participate in the world’s largest performing arts showcase, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) conference. Read More

Monday January 3
Scotch and Irish traditions come together in the form of a new album featuring Julie Fowlis and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and supporting musicians. See Irish Times
It's Irish music summer school time down under and this Australian gathering is now in its tenth year. Click Here for  details.

Sunday January 4
Sharon Shannon and Mundy's recording of The Galway Girl was the biggest selling single in Ireland last year, according to Irma.

Saturday January 3
Patsy Gilmore, born in Ballygar in Co Galway in 1829, founded the 32 man Gilmore Band in Boston, organised the massive five-day "Peace Jublilee" in Boston in 1862 and composed When Johnny Comes Marching Home among other songs. The Irish Times.
Have you a song in mind? Shane McGowan reportedly earns 20,000 euro annually for his authorship of Fairytale of New York.
Leitrim duo Damien O'Brien (fiddle) and Oliver Loughlin (piano accordion) have a fresh album, Factory Turn, reviewed in The Irish World. 

July - December '08 Newsletter
March - June '08 Newsletter

Irish Music Festivals, 2009 

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