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All-star line-up for Tulla Trad festival


This September, the Tulla Trad Festival marks its sixth year and as in previous events, this year’s festival offers a jam packed programme. 
A parade through the Main Street will get the show on the road on Friday, September 7 at 8pm, led by the Chapel Gate Wrenboys, 2011 All-Ireland champions.
This will be followed by the official opening at Tulla Courthouse by Paula Carroll of Clare FM, and will again feature the Wren Boys.
Later that evening there will be a Power Session in the Powerhouse at 9.30pm led by Mick, Michelle and Louise Mulcahy, while dancers will be catered for in John Minogues where the opening céilí gets underway at 10pm with music by Danny Hunt and band.
The festival continues on Saturday, September 10, when a host of workshops will get underway at St Joseph’s Secondary School and the tutors this year are all masters in their own fields.
Registration for these classes takes place at 10.30am at the school, with workshops from 11am to 4.30pm.
Those participating in the workshops are advised that a degree of competence will be expected in their chosen instrument as there will be no beginners’ workshops.
Tutors this year include Sibeal Davitt, who is one of the judges on TG4’s Feis and Blood. She has agreed to come to Tulla not only as a tutor for sean nós dancing but also to be among the performers at the Celebrity Concert that Saturday night.
Fermanagh-born Darren Breslin who is one of Ireland’s finest exponents of the traditional B/C button-accordion will tutor the accordion workshops. Winner of the All-Ireland senior box title at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 2008 the branch of Tulla Comhaltas are honoured he will be in Tulla for the weekend.
Another household name is the Mulcahys of Abbeyfeale. Mick, Michelle and Louise Mulcahy play a dazzling array of instruments between them but it’s the sweetness and tunefulness of their ensemble playing that is most striking. They will all be performing at the concert while Michelle will tutor in the concertina and Louise will teach the flute at the workshops.
Another coup for this year’s festival is the Kane Sisters, Liz and Yvonne from North Connemara, who will tutor for the fiddle workshops. Liz and Yvonne Kane are much-respected musicians and educators in their field. They were taught by their grandfather, local fiddle player, Jimmy Mullen and Mary Finn, a Sligo musician and teacher.
Banjo enthusiasts at Tulla Trad will also be in for a special treat with Angelina Carberry offering this year’s banjo workshops. Angelina has developed a highly personal style with unique rhythmical characteristics. Her unmistakable banjo sound is captured on her solo 2005 CD, An Traidisún Beo, which was named among the Irish Echo’s Top 10 CDs of the year. 
As in other years there will also be classes in Comhra Gaeilge that will be taught by Sr Eibhlin Ni Challanain and Caitlin Ni Mhaoldomnaigh.
Further events on Saturday include an open day at the Tulla Stables Artist Studio where jewellery, pottery, sculptures, prints and paintings will be on display. In addition live music sessions take place at the Stables throughout the day. 
The highlight on Saturday is a celebrity concert at Tulla Courthouse that takes place at 8pm.
With his wonderful rendition of Chantal De Champignon Brian O’Rourke will woo audiences at this event. Also joining the concert line up is renowned fiddle player Vincent Griffin who is president of Tulla Comhaltas, Sibéal Davitt, Darren Breslin, The Kane Sisters, Mick, Michelle and Louise Mulcahy and Angelina Carberry. The musicians will be accompanied by Mary Corry on piano and Michael Landers on guitar.
Seating for this event is limited, so those wishing to attend are advised to book early. That night there will be a Céilí Mór with The Five Counties Céilí Band at 10pm in St Joseph’s Secondary School Hall.
Festival events continue on Sunday, September 9, with an Aifreann Gaeilge in St Peter and Paul’s Church, Tulla and the celebrant will be Fr Martin O’Brien.
A very popular event at the recent festivals was the singing session in Teach Ól with Robbie McMahon and Nora Butler and this year will be no different as the session gets underway at 12 noon and all singers are very welcome to join in.
At 1pm there will be a Sunday session in Minogues back room with Darren Breslin, Mary MacNamara and the East Clare Young Musicians.
Meanwhile Andrew MacNamara will launch Nenagh fiddle player Eileen O’Brien’s eagerly awaited CD, Aon le hAon at 6.30pm in Minogues in Tulla.
The closing céilí takes place on Sunday night at 9.30pm in Minogues Bar where music will be provided by Jim Corry, Mark Donnellan and Charlie Harris.

 

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