Ballydehob can look forward to a bumper weekend of traditional Irish music, song, dance and entertainment as part of the ninth annual Ballydehob Traditional Music Festival, which will take place in the village this weekend.
THE village of Ballydehob can look forward to a bumper weekend of traditional Irish music, song, dance and entertainment as part of the ninth annual Ballydehob Traditional Music Festival, which will take place in the village this weekend.
Headlining this year’s festival line-up is one of Ireland’s finest traditional groups De Danann. Founded in 1975, De Danann are widely regarded as one of most influential Irish traditional music groups over the past forty years
Festivities open this Friday, March 27th, at 8pm in Ballydehob Community Hall with the All-Star Festival Concert headlined by De Danann. Founding member Alec Finn (bouzouki) will be joined by Eleanor Shanley (vocals), Derek Hickey (accordion), Brian McGrath (banjo and piano), Ronan O'Flaherty (fiddle) and Neil Lyons (bodhrán).
The concert will also feature this year’s musician-in-residence, Edel Fox (concertina) accompanied by Neil Byrne (fiddle) and sean nós dancer Gearóid Devane. Following the concert, the festival session trail kicks off at 10pm in Rosie’s Bar, O’Brien’s Bar and the Irish Whip.
As well as topping the bill in the All-Star Gala Festival Concert, De Danann will offer workshops at 10am on Saturday morning, March 28th, in Scoil Bhríde. This is a rare opportunity for West Cork musicians to learn from some of the finest exponents of Irish traditional music.
- Full details of the Ballydehob Traditional Music Festival programme are on page 16 of this week’s Southern Star – in the shops now …
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