Celtic Thunder have been taking a look at potential new members for their hugely successful stage show.

The band’s management holds auditions each year in a quest for people who might be good enough to join the group or act as an understudy.

Learn more ...

Traditional folk band Dervish have pulled out of a tour of Israel after being targeted by ‘cyber bullies’ on social media sites.

Cathy Jordan

Dervish had been set to play three concerts in June after being invited by their Israeli musician friend, Avshalom. However they have been forced to pull out after being on the receiving end of an “avalanche of negativity and venom” on social media sites.

Learn more ...

Ireland’s official song for the Euro 2012 football tournament has been recorded and features some of the biggest names in Irish music.

The classic 19th century folk song, the Rocky Road to Dublin, has been given a 2012 revamp by the Coronas, the Dubliners and radio star, Ray D’Arcy to support the football team in Poland and Ukraine.

Learn more ...

Bob Dylan awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom - one of America’s top honours. The singer-songwriter was highly vocal in the US civil rights and anti war movements in the 1960s.

This year he is one of 13 people, including Madeleine Albright, the first female Secretary of State, astronaut, John Glenn, and physician and epidemiologist, William Foege, to be chosen to receive what is the highest civilian honour in the US.

Learn more ...

Copy of Proclamation of Irish Republic sold for €124,000

Easter Proclamation of 1916

An original copy of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic has been sold at auction for €124,000. It is thought to be one of only 50 out of 2,500 original copies to still exist.

The document is one of the most important in Irish political history.

Learn more ...