A host of Donegal’s best musicians are preparing to make the journey to Cork at the end of this month to perform at the 38th Cork Folk Festival.
Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Na Mooneys, Dermot Byrne, Steve Cooney and Bríd Harper have been busy rehearsing ahead of their performances.
On the 28th of September Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill will take to the stage at Triskel Christchurch in Cork. The sisters belong to a renowned singing family originally from the Donegal Gaeltacht.
Tríona, who was a member of The Bothy Band, formed Skara Brae in the 1960s with Maighread, Dáithí Sproule her late brother Mícheál. More recently in 2007, the sisters joined Moya Brennan and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to form the group, T with the Maggies. Maighread and Tríona live performances are unforgettable heart-rending events, their unique style and repertoire of traditional singing comes down to them through generations of the Ó Domhnaill family.
On the 30th, Na Mooneys will put on a performance at the CIT Cork School of Music. This is a family group comprising of sisters Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Anna Ní Mhaonaigh their brother Gearóid and his son Ciarán Ó Maonaigh (fiddle).
Mairéad is well known internationally through her music and her work with Altan and String Sisters. Ciarán is also well known for his music through his playing with Caitlín & Ciarán and Fidil and he achieved Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana at TG4 Gradam Ceoil in 2014. Anna was a member of Macalla, an all women musical group, and organised Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy. Gearóid was a member of Ceoltóirí Altan and Ragairne.
On the 30th, attendees will be treated to a performance by An Spailpin Fanach. Featuring three of Ireland’s most well known and revered musicians, Dermot Byrne, Steve Cooney and Bríd Harper this gig guarantees spellbinding music and a concert that traditional music fans cannot afford to miss.
Dermot hails from Buncrana in the Inishowen peninsula and has played the accordion from a very young age. His seemingly effortless playing, combined with great subtlety, and a faultless ear, makes him one of the great accordion players of his generation. Dermot has guested on collaborations with many great musicians and bands including Altan, Sharon Shannon, Salsa Celtica, Tommy Peoples, Tim O’Brien and the late jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli. He recently recorded a duet CD with French Harpist Floriane Blancke.
Bríd Harper is originally from Castlefinn, Co. Donegal and is now living near Dungannon Co. Tyrone. She has been hailed as one of the leading exponents of traditional fiddle playing of our time. She was senior All-Ireland Champion, Fiddler of Dooney and Oireachtas winner in 1988. Bríd has recently released her Solo Album which has been hailed as one of the best traditional albums of 2015.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Steve Cooney started his professional musical career at the age of seventeen. He has played in rock bands including Bushwhackers, Fruitcake and the successful folk/rock band Red Gum. In 1981 he bought a one-way ticket to Ireland where he joined Stockton’s Wing, playing bass guitar and didgeridoo. Since then he has been very active performing and recording with Séamus Begley, Sharon Shannon, Martin Hayes, Mary Black, and many others.
Cork Folk Festival has attracted thousands of music fans over its 38 year history. In 2016 ‘The Lonely Planet’ described the festival as; “Pulling pub backrooms and grand old theatres into service for fruitful traditional music that ranges from the foot-stomping to the hushed.”
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