Four new postage stamps have been issued by An Post to celebrate traditional bands The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, The Dubliners, The Chieftains and Altan.
The stamps feature "snapshots in time" photographs of each band and are on sale at post offices or at www.irishstamps.ie
An Post chairwoman Margaret McGinley yesterday said the new stamps spoke volumes "about the fortitude and brilliance of the featured musicians and about the vibrant, living, forward-looking entity that is Irish music.
"The fact that these groups continue to develop their music and to dazzle and delight their fans - as an ensemble or as individual musicians - is testament to their musical brilliance."
She also paid tribute to the featured musicians who have died since the photos were taken. "In particular we remember Derek Bell of The Chieftains; Ciarán Bourke and Luke Kelly of The Dubliners; brothers Paddy, Tom and Bobby Clancy; and Frankie Kennedy of Altan."
The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem and Altan are commemorated with 75 cent stamps, while 48 cent stamps carry the faces of The Chieftains and The Dubliners.
A limited-edition booklet was also launched last night containing four of each of the four stamps, as well as information about the development of Irish music and the role played by these groups. It costs €12 and is being promoted as "an ideal Christmas stocking filler for musically inclined friends at home and abroad".
With Christmas less than seven weeks away, An Post will launch its festive stamp collection later this week.
