Moynihan Brothers anniversary

The Moynihan Brothers from Wexford are celebrating 40 years on the road this year. Dave and Arthur will be joined by family members and friends for a gala celebration night at the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gory on Wednesday night 23 September.

The lads are thrilled to know that many people have already booked in to the hotel from the UK and various parts of the southeast, most of whom have an allegiance to the band, first founded by their late father Dave, which has been closely associated with Wexford over the decades.

The Moynihan Brothers will perform a wide selection from their regular repertoire, including their latest single Dad’s Family Band, composed by Mary O’Brien-Sweeney and Dave Moynihan.

Joining them for the big night will be the Shawn Cuddy Band, The Joe Davitt Country Band, Mary Darcy, Limelite, The Heartbeats Showband, Blue Lace, The Madcaps, Mary O’Brien Sweeney and many more. Tony Kehoe from South East Radio will compere the show.

For all the details, contact the Ashdown Park Hotel (ashdownparkhotel.com), or visit the Moynihan Brothers’ Facebook page.

Bluegrass all the way at Omagh

Festival

The Omagh Bluegrass Festival takes place in the delightful setting of the Ulster-American Folk Park this weekend. Bluegrass aficionados from all over Ireland and further afield will make their annual pilgrimage trip to the festival that is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year.

Many of the major names from the American bluegrass circuit have graced the Omagh Festival over the years and it has established a reputation as one of the leading European festivals of its kind.

The headliners this year are the Claire Lynch Band from the USA. A whole host of other groups, including the Demolition String Band (USA), Viper Central (Canada) the CC Smugglers (UK), Bill Faster (Slovakia), Northern Exposure, Broken String Band, King Blue, Geordie McAdam and Friends, Wookalily, Tom Sweeney, Prison Love, the Watery Hill Boys and the Bluegrass Festival Choir are among those who will feature over the weekend.

The action gets under way on Friday evening 4 September. Saturday and Sunday are the big days, with thousands flocking to the afternoon sessions which run from 12.30pm to 6pm, with six stages in constant use throughout the park. There is also the big concert on Saturday night.

Acclaimed music historian Rodney McElrae will deliver a lecture, called Remembering the crooked road – exploring the Appalachian folk music trail, between 1pm and 2pm at the Mellon Centre on Saturday.

The authors of Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage from Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia, Fiona Ritchie and Doug Orr, are the guest speakers at the Sunday lecture at 1pm.

For full details on the Omagh Bluegrass Festival and the lineup of concerts and events, visit www.nmni.com/uafp/What-s-on/Events/Bluegrass-Music-Festival-2015.

Cootehill ready for big night

The Errigal Hotel in Cootehill is the venue for a major concert in support of Drumlin House Training Centre, Cootehill, and St Christopher’s Hospice, Cavan, on Thursday 10 September.

The venture is once again being organised and promoted by local musician and singer John McIntyre from Cootehill.

“People have been so supportive of this annual concert over the last few years and we have been fortunate enough to raise thousands for these causes because of the loyalty of those who come along on the night,” says John.

Michael English and his band are the headline act this time and the special guest are Margo O’Donnell, Shane Owens, Ciarán Rosney, Mary Prendergast (Waterford), Áine Crehan and Katie Wright. John McIntyre and his band will also perform at the show and the compere is Joe Finnegan from Shannonside-Northern Sound Radio. Tickets are €15 and the concert starts at 9pm.

Offaly memories

Country Sound received a lovely note from Aileen Dolan in Temora, Kilcormac, Co Offaly, during the week. Aileen is a weekly reader and especially enjoyed a story we featured in a recent edition.

“That was a lovely article in last week’s Country Sound on Frank McCaffrey welcoming his granddaughters on the same day, 90 minutes apart. Seven years ago this month, my sister Rose and I welcomed our sons Oisin and Daniel into the world and both were 90 minutes apart. Not only that, but it was also our late dad William’s birthday. You can imagine the excitement at home that day and dad got to enjoy four special birthdays with them,” wrote Aileen.

Thanks to Aileen for sharing this lovely story with Irish Country Living readers this week.