West Cork are Masters of Tradition
The Masters of Tradition festival is set to return to West Cork next week with a bumper programme of Irish music, song and dance.
Taking place at the beautiful seaside town of Bantry, the festival is in its 17th year and takes place from 21-25 August.
The festival is headlined by its Artistic Director and East Clare fiddler Martin Hayes, who will be joined at the opening concert on Wednesday 21 August at the Maritime Hotel by long-time collaborator Dennis Cahill, guitarist Steve Cooney, sean nós singer and harpist Síle Denvir, dancer Sandy Silva and writer Timothy O’Grady, for an evening of words and music based on O’Grady’s award-winning novel ‘I Could Read The Sky’.
Over the five days of the festival there will also be performances, collaborations and talks from bass, baritone, treble and piccolo concertina player Cormac Begley, harpist, fiddler, pianist and vocalist Florian Blancke and traditional accordion player Dermot Byrne.
Also appearing will be virtuoso performer on the viola da gamba Liam Byrne, fiddle player Yvonne Casey, uilleann piper Pádraic Keane, musician, film maker and broadcaster Philip King and many more.
A special performer at the festival will be Mohammad Syfkhan, a Syrian refugee living in Leitrim, whose music plays an important role in providing a bridge between the Kurdish community in Ireland and the local community.
There are multiple secret concerts around the Bantry Bay throughout the week including on Whiddy Bay, Future Forests in Kealkill and at St Brendan’s School Hall.
Artistic Director Martin Hayes said: “This festival couldn’t happen without the dedicated work of Francis Humphrys and the wonderful staff of West Cork Music. Our very special venues add a particular magic and feeling to the performances and are key to the success of the festival. We are very grateful to have access to them.”
Masters of Tradition kicks off in Bantry on Wednesday 21 August and continues until Sunday 25 August. For more information and bookings visit westcorkmusic.ie, or phone 027-52788.