10th South Roscommon Singers Festival kicks off

A large number of visitors from England, Scotland and America will congregate in South Roscommon this weekend with people from every corner of Ireland for the 10th South Roscommon Singers Festival. The event, taking place in venues in Lecarrow and Knockcroghery, kicks off this Friday, October 26 and runs until Sunday, October 28, for what has been described by traditional folk music fans in previous years as a wondrous cornucopia of delights. Among the highlights is the Annie McNulty Award, presented each year to a singer, or singers, to recognise their outstanding contribution to the promotion and development of traditional singing at home and abroad. The recipients this year are Cork born brothers, John and Tim Lyons, who now reside in counties Clare and Galway respectively. The brothers will also launch their first CD together, 'Easy and Bold', alongside the presentation of the award during a packed concert programme on Saturday night. Other events to look forward to include a song saunter around the medieval complex at Rindoon near Lecarrow, 'Going Out West' on Friday evening - Sara Grey and Ben Paley present traditional songs that migrated into the Western States of America from Ireland, Britain and other parts of the States. 'Unfurl the Cotia Banner' is the title of an event on Sunday afternoon where Jim Bainbridge recalls some of the songs, music, personalities and traditions that sprung from the centuries old coal mining industry of Co Durham and at 'The Happy Couple' on Sunday evening Billy Teare and Kathleen O'Sullivan present some humorous insights into Billy's life as an only child of dour Ulster Scots parents, described by him as, "a couple of square pegs in a vicious circle". There will also be loads of sessions, recitals, storytelling for children and adults and lots, lots more over the course of the weekend. In fact, organisers are promising non-stop entertainment in Lecarrow and Knockcroghery from Friday afternoon to early Monday morning. Full details are available on www.southroscommon.ie. All events are free, except the Saturday night concert.