All those thousands of people who claimed to love Sweeney's Men will have a chance to see Irvine and Moynihan together at a special concert in Galway's Black Box Theatre on Wednesday August 16th, and although he may not play, Joe Dolan is also to attend. Entitled Troubadours, this concert is a tribute to the ballad, and other musicians taking part include Sean Tyrrell, Tony Small and John Faulkner.
Earlier that day, singer/songwriter John Faulkner will give a talk on "The Ballad, Past Present and Future" at the Atlanta Hotel.
This concert and lecture are part of the Fonn Traditional Music Summer School, organised by the Galway School of Irish Traditional Music, which will be opened this afternoon by RTE's recently appointed Director General Cathal Goan. Running until Sunday August 20th, Fonn features concerts, lectures, music sessions, ceilis and workshops.
Tonight, Donegal group Altan play the Black Box. On Thursday there will be a special tribute to East Galway composer and fiddle player Paddy Fahy. There will be a special concert of banjo music in the Roisin Dubh, Dominick Street on Friday, while early in the week, at the same venue, new band, Idle Road, will give their debut performance, with fiddle player Tommy Peoples as special guest.
The Tulla Ceili Band will play on Saturday night at 10.00 p.m. at the Commercial Boat Club and on Sunday Heather Breeze Ceili Band will be in the same venue at 3.00 p.m. for an afternoon ceili. Nicholas Carolan will lecture on "Commercial Sound Recordings of Irish Traditional Music", while other lectures include the "Music of East Galway" and the "Evolution of the Banjo in Irish Traditional Music".
Fonn will also run master-classes and workshops in instruments and singing. Tutors include Jackie Daly on accordion, Sean Ryan on tin whistle and Tommy Keane on pipes.
More details on all these events are available at 091-562099, e-mail: gsitm@indigo.ie or on the website, www.gsitm.com