This article is from page 29 of the 2007-10-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
ORGANISERS are hoping that a bumper programme will attract the crowds for the 14th annual Ennis Trad Festival.
This year’s event takes place from November 8 to 12 across numerous venues in the town. The festival fea- tures free day and night sessions with afternoon, evening and night con- certs, recitals, singing, workshops, presentations, CD launches and the ever-popular Trad Disco.
Legendary accordion player and composer Finbar Dwyer will open the festivities on November 8. Finbar, who recently returned to performing after a break of 17 years, will be ac- companied by Brian McGrath.
On Friday night Four Men & A Dog will unleash their highly ener- getic repertoire on the festival.
The band comprises Cathal Hayden (fiddle), Donal Murphy (accordion), Gino Lupari (bodhran, vocals), Ger- ry O’Connor (banjo) and Kevin Do- herty (guitar, vocals).
Workshops dominate Saturday’s events, with classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced level given by the some well-known names in music and dance. A new addition to last year’s festival was the trad-themed table quiz, which will test knowledge of trad musicians, records, CDs and trad triviality.
This year will see the presentation of the Ennis Trad Festival Gradam Ceol to concertina player Sonny
Murray. Sonny, from Knockalough, Kilmihil, is one of the many fine concertina players who have hailed from the area including Solus Lillis, Bernard Sullivan, Tom McCarthy and 2005 Gradam recipient Tom Ore
Sonny lives in Ennis and has had a major influence on the Ennis music scene over the years and this pres- entation is a fitting compliment to a man regarded as a master.
A new feature of this year’s festival is the Ard Gasce na mBuinte Senior Ceili Band competition, which will be adjudicated by a panel of four ad- judicators and audience.
Some of the best bands in Ireland and abroad, such as The Thatch, Tribes and Ceolteori na Mainstreach,
will compete. The night’s festivities will be recorded for Ceili House.
There will be many CD launch- es during the festival events this year including artists such as Kane O’ Rourke and Geraldine Bradley.
The guiding ethos for organisers since the festival’s inception has been to bring musicians of all generations and styles to Ennis to share their tunes, songs and steps in a relaxed session environment.
A spokesperson for the festival said, “The festival committee has orchestrated the sessions to allow Opportunities for artists to perform with others that they wouldn’t nor- mally get to meet. Accordingly a great social dimension is always Ooo) OI Mr B SDRC UAE: