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.

Traditional Irish music has lost one of its oldest and notable virtuosos with the passing of Paddy Cronin, 88, a pupil of the fabled fiddle master of Sliabh Luachra, Padraig O’Keeffe.

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.