The TG4 Gradam Ceoil returns to Cork for a

Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons will be among the presenters at the Gradam Ceoil TG4 Traditional Irish Music Awards which will take place at Cork Opera House next Sunday.

HE MAY have been 72 by the time it hit the record stores, but Gerry Quinn says musician Andy Irvine is justifiably proud of the CD and DVD of his 70th birthday concerts in Dublin’s Vicar St.

Running an arts festival in these tough economic times is challenging, says Declan McCarthy, one of the organisers of the Skibbereen Arts Festival (July 25-August 2).

One of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, will perform for one night, October 3, at The University of Notre Dame, in Indiana, in the US, in commemoration of the works of Cork-born Captain Francis O’Neill.

“THIS festival has been a beacon in the traditional music calendar,” said traditional fiddler Paddy Glackin on Monday night at the last Frankie Kennedy Winter School in Donegal.

MUSIC is Donal Lunny’s world — his day, his night.

THE Performance Corporation is renowned for staging its theatre productions in adventurous places — in medieval dungeons, amongst sand dunes, even on a small rowboat. For its latest, most adventurous trick, it’s staging a three-day festival in Ireland’s only palace — Castletown House on the outskirts of Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Bruce Springsteen, with the full E Street Line Band line up, will bring his Wrecking Ball Weekender World Tour to a dramatic conclusion at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, next summer.

Bruce Springsteen is to round off his latest European tour in Kilkenny, it has been confirmed.

Amid emotional scenes, a hush descended on the crowd as the remains of Páidí Ó Sé were removed from his home to Ventry Church, scarcely 100 metres across the road.

Paddy Glackin tells Nicki ffrench Davis about his participation in John Cage’s musical take on Joyce’s Finnegans Wake

Prayer candles burned brightly in the church where Maeve Binchy’s funeral took place yesterday — a poignant reminder of the writer’s first book, Light a Penny Candle.

The life, love, talent and generosity of acclaimed best-selling novelist Maeve Binchy have been remembered at her funeral.

THE late co-founder of the Willie Clancy Summer School, Muiris Ó Rócháin was yesterday described as “a man of great vision, great courage, but a very humble man”.

LEGENDARY commentator Philip Greene passed away early yesterday morning.

A WOMAN of words could have wanted no better send-off than Nuala O’Faolain received.

NASEEM HAMED yesterday announced he is planning to return to the ring in the Middle East this summer after a three-year absence.

A MUCH-LOVED traditional musician who brought joy to many people during his long life was laid to rest in his beloved Sliabh Luachra, yesterday.