Ireland enjoys a great richness of masters, who are however, often overlooked and sidelined by the current trends in Irish music. The Masters of Tradition festival was therefore created to provide a much-needed opportunity for the legends of Irish music to perform and be heard.

From Wednesday, August 13 until Sunday, August 17, these legends will return to Bantry for the annual festival. For five days, a select line-up of Ireland's greatest musicians converge on the picturesque West Cork town of Bantry for this unique festival, which celebrates the very roots of traditional music.

The sessions will be a coming together of musical experience to explore the spirit of Traditional Music in Ireland in 2007. A mix of musicians, unexpected guests and featured artists will be invited to play each evening. This festival is about creating a quiet and intimate atmosphere in which Irish music can be performed in a good acoustic environment, and where listeners can appreciate the subtle details of the music.

This festival gives performers the freedom to choose what they play in the glorious surroundings of Bantry House. The idea for the festival evolved from Martin Hayes' call to create a "quiet and intimate space" where the heart of traditional music could be exposed. The concept has evolved over the years to produce this five-day event that encompasses a simpler, less cluttered performance format and involving some of the very best Irish musicians sharing their take on traditional music. With concerts and young musician workshops, the festival packs in as many elements of the tradition as possible. The concerts aim to give a real insight into the musical journeys that these musicians, and the music that they play, have taken over the years.

Looking set to build on the resounding success of the last five years, the 2008 Masters of Tradition Festival throws open its doors to some of the very best musicians in the land. Superb Clare-born, Seattle-based, fiddler Martin Hayes will be joined by his usual partner, Chicago-born guitarist Dennis Cahill as well as Kevin Crawford, Steve Cooney, Frankie Gavin, Máire Ní Chéileachair, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Emer Mayock, Helen Hayes, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and many more.

The concept behind Masters of Tradition has evolved over the years to produce this five-day event that encompasses a simpler, less cluttered performance format and involves some of the very best Irish musicians sharing their take on traditional music. With concerts and young musician's workshops spread over five days, the festival packs in as many elements of the tradition as possible.