Featuring as part of Drogheda’s annual calendar on the last weekend of November for the past 16 years, this festival is warming up to be a busy one, filled with the very best in traditional singing, music and dance. It will feature concerts, sessions, workshops, school performances, singing sessions and a ceilí.

DROGHEDA TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL WEEKEND 2012

Friday 30th November

Outreach WorkshopsVenue: Primary Schools | Time: 10am – 3pm

There are currently over 150 students doing classes in fiddle and tin whistle since September 2011with renowned musician Gerry O’Connor. Gerry O’Connor along with musicians; Saileog Ní Cheannabháin(fiddle) and Eoghan O’ Ceannabháin (concertina, flute and tin whistle) will run a number ofworkshops throughout the day.

CONCERT | Singing Concert for Primary SchoolsVenue: Droichead Arts Centre | Tickets €3 | Time: 10.30am – 11.30am Featuring singers: Jilly Cullen, Aideen Morrissey, S J McArdle and Kevin Branigan

Drogheda has a rich tradition in singing. With this concert we wish to offer students a taste of thedifferent styles of singing both here in Drogheda and throughout Ireland. Expect an interactiveconcert filled with weird and wonderful lyrics about foxes, hares, pirates and much more.

Duration: 1 hour approx.

‘Relish’ Music SessionVenue: Relish Café, Highlanes Gallery, Laurences Street | Time: 7.30pm – 9pm

CONCERT - The Voice Squad with guests Mick O’Brien, Saileog Ní Cheannabháin and Eoghan O’ Ceannabháinin honour of the late Caitlín Bean Uí Chairbre

Join us for this homecoming concert from one of Ireland’s celebrated vocal groups. Its 25 years since Fran McPhail, Phil Callery and Gerry Cullen joined to form The Voice Squad, a group that took the traditional Irish repertoire and gave it a fresh new acapella sound. After a long hiatus, The Voice Squad has finally returned to the stage in their home town. Joining them we welcome one of our highly regarded Uilleann Pipers Mick O’Brien with singer and fiddle player Saileog Ní Cheannabháin and singer, concertina and flute player Eoghan O’ Ceannabháin.

Venue: Droichead Arts Centre | Tickets: €15 / €12 conc. | Time: 8.30pm

Carberry’s Bar SessionVenue: Carberry’s Bar, North Strand | Time: 10.30pm

Saturday 1st December

WORKSHOP | Unaccompanied Traditional Singing Workshop with Singer Phil Callery

Venue: Barlow House, Narrow West Street | Tickets: €5 | Time: 12.30 - 2pm

Learn the tradition of unaccompanied singing with Phil Callery, singer with the group The Voice Squad and a solo artist. His recent album ‘Landscape of the Past’ has a collection chosen from his vast repertoire. A singing career that spans decades from his early days in the Dublin folk clubs scene in the late 60’s to the ‘Singers Club’ in the 70’s.

CONCERT | Young MusiciansTickets: €4/Family of 4 €12 | Time: 4pm - 5pm

Children from the Droichead Arts Centre Young Musicians programme perform a delightful concert to showcase an accumulation of their hard work over the past years and a half.

MUSIC SESSIONS | Free Admission

Family Music Session | D’vine Restaurant, Dyer Street 2pm – 4pm

O’Raghaillagh’s Session | O’Raghaillagh’s GAA Club bar 5pm – 9pm

Carberry’s Bar Session 9pm

O’Raghaillagh’s Session | O’Raghaillagh’s GAA Club bar 10pm

CEILÍ | The Johnny Reidy Band supported by Triskell Ceilí BandReigning from Co. Kerry; The Johnny Reidy Band play with a virtuoso skill to a quick tempo which ispaced perfectly for set dancing. Johnny Reidy leads on the box accordion, with Eddie Lee on piano,Marienne Brown on flute and tin whistle and Martina O’Neill on fiddle. Expect polkas, slides andreels while this bright, joyful sound raises the atmosphere that’s needed for any lively ceilí.

Triskell Céilí Band, from Co. Louth have played for Céilís all over Ireland and Europe. The drive and energy of their music would move anyone towards the dance floor. The lively box playing is accompanied by the great lift and swing of the flute. The steady drumming and vamping keeps everyone including musicians and dancers at their pace.

Venue: O’Raghaillagh’s GAA Club, Drogheda | Time: 7pm – 11pm

Tickets: €10 / Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 Children) €30

Sunday 2nd December

SESSIONS | Free Admission

The Salthouse Restaurant 2pm - 5pm

The D Hotel Lounge 7pm - 9pm

The Singing SessionVenue: Droichead Arts Centre Café | Tickets: €3 | Time: 5pm – 8pm

Hosted by Drogheda Traditional Singers, this session has been described a ‘spiritual experience’ byvisitors who’ve attended in the past. Over 30 unaccompanied singers will gather to share collectedsongs from home and away. The session will also include special guests Ruth Clinton and StuartCarolan.

Tickets available from Droichead Arts Centre in person, on telephone or online.Box Office: 041 9833946/ info@droichead.comOnline booking: www.droichead.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/droghedatraditionalmusicweekend

Location: Stockwell Street, Drogheda Co. Louth

Festival Partners include Relish Restaurant, The D Hotel and O’Raghaillaghs GAA