Anne Brady
Anne Brady runs the traditional Irish music site, Findtradfolk. Here she highlights some of the festivals taking place around Ireland this summer.
There is a plethora of festivals taking place around Ireland this year, particularly during the summer. Just last weekend there was the Inishbofin Arts Festival, Feile Chois Chuain, Feile Oriel, Feile na gCuach and Clancy’s of Athy had a small trad festival in their pub.
I was shocked and so sad to hear of the death of the great Barney McKenna.
Barney McKenna
I grew up listening to him. He and The Dubliners helped to create and shape my love for Irish music. It’s perhaps hard to imagine the kind of impact The Dubliners had on the world way back in the 1960s.
Nowadays, we take it for granted that Irish folk music is well respected and has fans all across the world.
It wasn’t always like that. At the start of the 1960s, Irish folk music was thought of as old fashioned and dull.
Death of Barney McKenna
McKenna and The Dubliners
For most people, Irish music meant Paddy McGinty’s Goat, or perhaps an over-sentimental version of Mountains of Mourne or Galway Bay.
After more than 20 years as lead singer with the hugely successful Irish band Dervish, Cathy Jordan has now released her first solo album.
Cathy Jordan
Although still a committed member of Dervish, Jordan has often pursued other projects and also performs with another band called The Unwanted. However, her new album, All the Way Home is the first time she has ventured out entirely alone.
She told Irish Music Forever: “It may seem like a sudden impulse, but it’s something I’ve been planning for several years. I wanted to look at some songs that mean something very special to me, often because they relate to people and places I knew from my childhood.”
There’s nothing like St Patrick’s Day to get singers and musicians dusting off their repertoire of Irish songs in readiness for the concerts and get-togethers held all over the world.
This year was no exception. Thousands of you visited our site in the week running up to the big day to get some background information on your favourite Irish tunes, or learn the lyrics and chords of standard Irish songs.
Others just wanted to watch the videos.
It was fascinating for us to see which songs got the most hits because it gives a good indication of which are your favourites, and which are the ones you turn to when you most want to connect to your Irish heritage.
Rory Gallagher
This year’s Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival has attracted some legendary performers from both folk and rock music.
Irish band Horslips will be the headline act on a bill that also includes Bryan Robertson, formerly with Irish rock band Thin Lizzy and Motorhead. He’ll be performing with the Eamonn McCormack Band.
Mick Tayor, the former guitarist with the Rolling Stones, will be appearing with his Rhythm ‘n Blues Band.
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