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Trad Masters return for Bantry fest

August 13th, 2016 11:55 AM

By Southern Star Team

Martin Hayes, artistic director Masters of Tradition festival.

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Bantry is ready for another week of incredible music as some of the country’s finest traditional musicians make their way to West Cork for the Masters of Tradition festival. 

BANTRY is ready for another week of incredible music as some of the country’s finest traditional musicians make their way to West Cork for the Masters of Tradition festival. 

Now in its 14th year, the Masters of Tradition festival, which is taking place in Bantry from Wednesday August 17th to Sunday August 21st, continues to celebrate traditional music in its purest form.

Renowned fiddler and the festival’s artistic director Martin Hayes, will once again open and close this year’s Masters of Tradition. 

Joining Clare native Martin Hayes in the opening concert will be guitarist Dennis Cahill, fiddler Liz Knowles and New York clarinettist Doug Wieselman. 

Some of the other well-known artists appearing throughout the week will be popular trad guitarist Steve Cooney; accordion players Dermot Byrne and Colm Gannon and fiddler Bríd Harper.

Joining the musicians will be singers Colm O’Donnell, Róisín Elsafty and John Flanagan; flute and tin whistle player Conal O’Grada; uilleann piper Máire Ní Ghráda; pianist Utsav Lal and many more.

As usual, tickets for all the events are going fast and the performances will be taking place in Bantry House, at St Brendan’s Church and at other various venues around the town. 

The festival is generously supported by the Arts Council, Cork County Council, Failte Ireland, RTÉ’s Lyric FM radio station, the Ireland Funds and Bord na Móna.

‘The Masters of Tradition provides a platform where subtle, and sometimes obscure, elements of Irish traditional music can be heard,’ said festival director Martin Hayes. 

‘By seeking the heart of the music we find a universal voice that has widespread appeal reaching across many cultural and musical barriers,’ he added.

The full programme is now available online. Further updates will be posted on the website www.westcorkmusic.ie and on www.facebook.com/westcorkmastersoftradition. 

For more information call 027 52788.

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