Killarney trad festival in full swing

A multinational assembly of trad music aficionados will descend on Killarney, Co Kerry, for the annual Gathering Festival this weekend.

People from the US, UK, France, and other continental countries will join large numbers of Irish musicians and fans for an event that was started long before last year’s successful tourism initiative of the same name.

Some leading musicians will perform in concert and in impromptu sessions at the town’s INEC.

“The event is now very firmly established in the traditional music calendar and many of the same people keep coming back year after year,’’ said festival organiser John O’Shea.

A primary schools’ programme began yesterday, with tips from musicians and dancers to the younger generation.

The Killarney School of Music will be taking part in workshops, which are a key element of the festival.

There will also be a trad disco with deejay Ollie Mullooly tomorrow night.

Leading céilí bands will provide music for dancers and there also be concerts, with veterans Buttons & Bows on stage tonight.

Tomorrow night, Martin Hayes, Denis Cahill and Seamus Begley will be in concert, while performers at the Scattering concert on Sunday night will include Caladh Nua, Damien Mullane, Donough Hennessy and Eamon de Barra.