Tulla comes alive with the sound of traditional music

THE final preparations are being put in place in advance of the Tulla Traditional Music Festival which kicks off in the East Clare village this Friday, with some great treats in store for those heading to the event.
Among the highlights for the third annual trad festival is a gala concert at St Peter and Paul’s Church featuring Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill and At The Racket. The concert, which takes place on Saturday at 8pm, will be split in two with Martin and Dennis playing for the first hour in their unique and extraordinary style of music. While At The Racket will follow the duo providing the audience with a completely contrasting style of music.
The gala concert has been extended to a two-hour performance this year adding the foursome At The Racket to the festival line-up for the first time.
At the Racket came together in 1997 and the band brings an interesting new sound to Irish music, playing seriously joyous music that lifts the heart. While performing, the band takes its audience on a musical journey, ranging from the sounds of the Golden era of 1920s vaudeville through to the traditional music of today. At the Racket is not only a recreation of the style of a bygone era and one of the freshest new sounds in Irish music but they stand alone for their style and uniqueness. They are well known for their uplifting banjo/saxophone lead sound, which adds to all of their tunes.
Following the gala concert set-dancing fans will enjoy the cйili mуr, with music from Martin Hayes and the Tulla Céilí Band this year. The céilí takes place at 10pm in St Joseph’s Secondary School hall.
Meanwhile, there will be a host of workshops where musicians, singers, dancers and Gaeilgóirí can learn from the masters. These workshops take place on Saturday at St Joseph’s Secondary School with registration at 10.30am. The workshops will then be held between 11am and 1pm and again between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
Among the fiddle masters to lead the workshops this year are Martin Hayes, Willie Kelly and Eileen O’Brien, while Mike Rafferty will offer a flute workshop, Mícheál O’Raghallaigh will offer a concertina workshop, Nora Butler will give a traditional singing workshop, while Aiden Vaughan will lead a steps for sets workshop, Suzanne Leahy will give a sean-nós dancing workshop and Sr Eibhlín Ní Challanáin agus Caitlín Ní Mhaoldomnaigh will lead a workshop in comhrá Gaeilge.
Those attending the workshops are advised that a degree of competence will be expected in all instruments at workshop level.
Meanwhile, O’Callaghan’s Mills man Denis Donnellan will launch his book entitled Ramble through Clare at the Black Sticks at 9.30pm on Friday night.
For more information on other Tulla Trad Festival events visit www.tullatradfestival.com or contact Mary McNamara 087 2378611 for workshop enquiries or 087 8350996 for ticket enquiries.