Keane to perform at the Brantry Fleadh

This significant event will see a series of Concerts each evening followed by music sessions, lasting no doubt into the wee small hours! On Saturday there will be Traditional Music workshops, under the guidance of some of Irelands leading Traditional Musicians (Cathal Hayden, Mairtin O’Connor, Seamie O’Dowd, Brid Harper, Meave Donnelly, PJ McDonald & John Joe Kelly).

On Sunday there will be a Sets Ceili, music sessions and a variety of other events.

The Brantry Fleadh concert series commences at 9.00pm on Friday is the legendary Sean Keane, back performing at the Brantry Fleadh by popular demand. Sean, born into the famous musical Keane family of Caherlistrane in County Galway, began his apprenticeship as a singer when he was but a toddler. His first solo album, `All Heart, No Roses`, enjoyed widespread critical acclaim and placed him at the top of the list of great Irish folk singers. `Turn A Phrase`, his second album, cemented his reputation and saw his popularity soar in Ireland. `No Stranger` and `The Man That I Am`followed in to the new millennium, both platinum albums. Sean released his latest album ‘Never Alone’ last December and is back touring full time. He will be supported in song by local men Cathal O’Neill, Ciaran & Niall Hanna from the O’Neill/Hanna fraternity, in Derrytresk. This very appealing concert will no doubt

be followed by an outburst of tunes in the Bard Centre.

Saturday evening sees the coming of the very popular Maritin O’Connor Trio featuring our very

own Cathal Hayden on Fiddle & Banjo. Since 2001, world renowned musicians Mairtin O’Connor,

Cathal Hayden, & Seamie O’Dowd have been building a formidable musical relationship gigging

together frequently as well as collaborating in the studio. The rapport with each other and the audience

was immediate and since then the trio have successfully played gigs in Ireland, Britain, Europe, USA &

Australia. In 2008 they recorded the widely acclaimed CD ‘Crossroads’ followed by ‘Going places’ in

2012.

Blending newly composed tunes with traditional favourites these albums a true merging of the old and

the new. O’Connor, Hayden and O’Dowd produce music that is breathtaking, descriptive and electrifying

– often all at the same time! and in recent years have become a very popular and regular act as part the

legendary Christy Moore band. They will be supported on the night by another local legend PJ McDonald

fresh back from a year long walkabout in Australia!

Sunday night see sisters of string join together for this unique collaboration by three of Ireland’s most outstanding female fiddlers. Bríd Harper, Nollaig Casey and Maeve Donnelly are consistently hailed

individually as three of Ireland’s most outstanding traditional fiddle players. This concert will showcase the vitality of the fiddle in an exceptional performance. Joining them on guitar is one of the best-known and most influential musicians in Ireland, Arty McGlynn, and one of the most sought-after Bodhran players today, unique with his deep rhythms and funky variations, John Joe Kelly. Collectively they are known as Jigs & Heels!!

This concert will highlight the diversity in traditional music styles that can be found in Ireland through the playing of these leading exponents of traditional fiddle playing.

A weekend not to be missed!

Tickets for all the aforementioned concerts are available at Gene Stuarts Music Shop, 9 Irish Street,

Dungannon Tel: 028 8772 5286

Further information on the Fleadh 2014 programme and Music Workshops is available on: 07771 607 840 or Email: [email protected]