ONCE a year, fiddle players old and young cluster around the statue of Sliabh Luachra master Pádraig O’Keeffe in the Kerry village of Scartaglin.

World Fiddle Day is to be celebrated by a host of string and bow experts in one of the country’s renowned traditional music strongholds at the weekend.

The 2014 Sliabh Luachra Music Trail, celebrating the traditional musical style of the area, will be launched on Friday by Arts Minister, Jimmy Deenihan, TD, at Ballydesmond Community Centre. The aim is a year-round calendar of events, encompassing festivals and venues throughout the region.