Bodhran Festival

The World Bodhran Championships Festival in Milltown have announced a top class line-up of entertainment for their concert programme on 2nd and 3rd June. The festival is being hosted in the mid-Kerry town for the second year running and will feature concerts, workshops, street entertainment and competitions to find the best bodhrán players in the world.

The Championships will open with the 'Gathering of the Goatskins' Concert on Friday 1st June. Featuring Mel Mercier on bodhran and world multi-percussionist Sandeep Raval, the concert will include Moving Cloud from Denmark. Featuring the phenomenal percussionist Svend Kjeldsen, Moving Cloud is a traditional group whose music has been described as hot, exciting, energetic and catchy. There last album was produced by Donal Lunny and they will spending two weeks in Ireland.

The opening concert will also included Kerry's own traditional group Crede which includes Emma O'Leary (fiddle), Jonathon Roche (accordion), Eilis Murphy (flute) and Sean Leahy (guitar/bodhran). This young and vibrant group perform in the Sliabh Luachra style and will join Mel Mercier and Sandeep Raval on stage.

Back by popular demand on Saturday 2nd June are Liam O'Maonlai of Hothouse Flowers and Ronan O'Snodaigh of Kila, whose concert in 2006 was one of the highlights of the festival. A special curtain-raiser, 'The Ninth Wave' will be performed at the concert. An extract from 'Ruanach's Tale' by Fergal O'Connor, it tells the tale of a warrior in mythical Ireland through the media of song, music and dance.

Tickets for both concerts, priced from 20 to 25 euro are now on sale from the World Bodhran Championships Office in Milltown at 066 9765601 or 085 7739553. Festival Chief Executive Owen O'Shea said the quality of the entertainment on offer was world-class and would provide music lovers with a special treat.