Brosna Ready to Roll with Con Weekend

Gathered for the RTE Radio One Céilí House 2002 recording at Brennan’s Bar were, front from left: Donal O’Connor, Nicky McAuliffe, Mick Mulcahy, Louise Mulcahy and soundman, Pat Hogan. Back from left: Kieran Hanrahan, presenter; Anne McAuliffe, Patrick O’Connor, John Connolly, Denis McMahon, Celia Regan, Pat Mulcahy, Michelle Mulcahy, Peter Browne, producer and Martin Moran, soundman. ©Photograph: John Reidy 10/11/2002

Brosna Céilí Band MKII: Included are: Gretta Curtin (left) with: Gearóid and Suzanne Curtin, Jerry Nunan, John Carroll, Darragh Curtin, Pat Mulcahy, Dan Sheehan, Ann Marie Fitzgerald, band leader and Jean Scannell. ©Photograph: JDM Photography

Members of the Mulcahy family from Abbeyfeale involved in the 2002 Céilí House recording at Brennan’s Bar in Castleisland Included are: Pat Mulcahy on drums with at back: Michael, Neilus, Michelle and Louise Mulcahy – all members of the Brosna Céilí Band for the recording. ©Photograph: John Reidy 10-11-2002

The 15th annual Con Curtin Traditional Music Festival gets under way with a packed programme of entertainment right throughout the weekend.

The festival will open with a gala concert which will be headlined by Danny O’Mahony and the O Raghallaigh brothers. There will be a number of special surprises along the way.

MC for the night is the inimitable Micheal Ó Muircheartaigh and the concert will be recorded by Radio Na Gaeltachta.

A film crew will be recording all weekend also for a series of programmes which will be screened on TG4 in the autumn. Workshops on Saturday will be led by the previous mentioned musicians and also by: Nancy Ní Choisteabhla, flute; Angelina Carberry, Banjo; Pauline Scanlon, Singing and Shane Creed, Sean Nós Dancing.

There are accordion competitions with a €400 prize-fund, street busking, a céilí and a singing session at Flanagan’s Bar. The highlight of the weekend, however, will be the relaunching of the Brosna Céilí Band.

The rejuvenated band / brand will be appearing in the concert on Friday night. In 1972 the original Brosna Céilí Band brought All-Ireland glory to the parish. All in the parish wish the new BCB every success as they embark on the coveted All-Ireland trail.

Band members include: John Carrol, Accordion; Anne Marie Fitzgerald, Fiddle and band leader; Darragh Curtin and Jean Scannell, Fiddles; Jerry Nunan and Suzanne Curtin, Flutes; Gretta Curtin, Concertina; Gearoid Curtin, Banjo; Dan Sheehan, Piano.

There’s a link that goes back to the previous band in that Pat Mulcahy is still behind the drums and what a story it would make it they did manage to clinch an All-Ireland title this year.

You can get the up-to-the-minute lowdown on the festival with a click on the link here: www.facebook.com/concurtinmusicfestival