Masters of Tradition - A unique festival

NOW in its 11th year, the Masters of Tradition Festival in Bantry, Co Cork (August 14-18) has turned out to be exactly the kind of festival that its artistic director, Martin Hayes, envisaged.

Ireland’s leading fiddle-player, from Co Clare, has been involved with the festival right from the start. “It’s a forum for really being able to hear musicians perform in a very performer-oriented environment,” says Hayes. The venues include St Brendan’s Church, in which Hayes, alongside long-time collaborator, the guitarist, Dennis Cahill, will perform the opening concert. They’ll be joined by sean nós singer, Nell Ní Chróinin, Danny O’Mahony on accordion and Steve Cooney on guitar. The other festival venue is elegant Bantry House.

“The main aim of this festival is to expose the unique artistic craft of various musicians. It’s also a kind of response to the fact that the country is full of festivals. I feel it’s important to highlight individual artistry in music rather than putting on a lot of bands that we’re all familiar with.”