Martin Hayes doesn’t like to stand still. The fiddle virtuoso from East Clare has made it a hallmark of his career to seek out creative ideas from beyond his musical tradition.

It would be going too far to say Borris-Ileigh’s success made Christmas bearable for Paddy Stapleton and his family.

Borris-Ileigh and Tipperary hurler Dan McCormack has hailed the incredible bond that has seen the club claim a surprise county and provincial double.

Musician and broadcaster Philip King is originally from Cork, but has been living on the Dingle peninsula for many years.

Timothy Grady is in Bantry this week to host a concert, and read from his classic book about the Irish in London, writes Don O'Mahony.

Five things for the week ahead with Des O'Driscoll.

All the latest music and arts news with Des O'Driscoll.

Here's your summer events guide for the month of August, including all things music, arts and ents.

Cormac Begley is a solo bass, baritone, treble and piccolo concertina player from a West Kerry musical family

Upon the release of The Gloaming 3 in February, it was announced that the beloved contemporary trad group would be taking a break for 2020.

Mick O’Dea is one of Ireland’s finest portrait painters, and he spent three seasons as the artist-in-residence at the Kilkenny Arts Festival, creating portraits of various participants. He tells Richard Fitzpatrick about those sessions, the fruits of which feature in a new exhibition

The organisers behind Ireland’s newest music festival, which came to a close at Trobolgan holiday village in Cork yesterday, say they’re encouraged by feedback from the event’s first year.

Des O’Driscoll shares his suggestions for the week ahead

As The Gloaming begin their seven-night sold out run at the NCH, they tell Ellie O’Byrne about the logistics of getting such a widely-dispersed group together

Des O’Driscoll shares the latest news from the entertainment world.

Two Cork festivals have promised dance, rock, spoken word, and more as they unveil the latest additions to their line-ups.

Des O’Driscoll shares the latest news

Des O’Driscoll shares the latest news from the world of entertainment.

In considering these men, it is impossible to ignore the political climate of 1917, writes Paul Rouse.

Martin Hayes has travelled from the céilí bands of his native Clare, via The Gloaming, to a new quartet with American musicians, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

Des O’Driscoll picks the best events taking place this week

Cathy Desmond talks to Liam Byrne, who is to bring the sound of the viola da gamba to Kilkenny as part of the city’s arts festival.

Des O’Driscoll shares the latest news from the world of entertainment.

Uilleann piper David Power is organising Dungarvan’s first music festival, writes Marjorie Brennan

Des O’Driscoll’s got all the home-grown music and entertainment news you need to know rounded-up right here.

Enya, Ireland’s biggest- selling solo artist, brought a touch of Christmas spirit to Cork yesterday ahead of her first appearance on Irish TV in a decade.

Martin Hayes is from Co Clare and his various musical projects include being a member of The Gloaming. He describes music as “my life, its my passion, my hobby and my career”. Hayes performs in concert with Paul Brady, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Altan and dancer Colin Dunne at the Blas Summer School 20th anniversary concert at the University Concert Hall Limerick on Sunday.

Midleton 2-16 Bishopstown 0-12: There was only going to be one winner from this first-round Cork SHC clash in Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday and yet it wasn’t so much a case of 2013 champions Midleton being comfortably in control all through, more an issue of how closer Bishopstown might have been had they not accumulated 17 wides.

Music takes you somewhere else. It has a quality that elevates you to a higher plane.

The centenary of the Easter Rising has given us an abundance of commemorative

THOUGH she trained as a classical flautist, Ellen Cranitch’s taste in music crosses all genres. Her late-night radio programme on Lyric FM runs the gamut from modern to folk, blues to opera and yes, classical. It’s a rich blend that keeps you coming back for more.

Here’s some great things to do around the country this weekend.

MUSIC NEWS: Is it really eight years since the last New Order album? The Manc electronica outfit have announced a new release, Music Complete, for September 25, complete with keyboard player Gillian Gilbert, albeit without bass player Bernard Sumner who has been estranged from the band since 2007.

Bantry Bay will ring with the sounds of traditional music as the acclaimed Masters of Tradition series runs for the next four days in the town, having opened last night.

Some of the best things to do this week.

I didn’t plan to make a career out of music. I thought I wanted to get an education and a regular job.

Percussive stylist Nic Gareiss will perform at the Masters of Tradition festival, says Colette Sheridan

Mel Mercier tells Eoghan O’Sullivan about plans for the UCC-based Cork Gamelan Ensemble to release their debut album

This year’s Ireland Folk Fest will be held in the tourist town of Killarney in Co Kerry from 24th to 26th of July.

The Gloaming may not be a conventional band, but they could win the Choice Music Prize, writes Ed Power