Dervish singer to be honoured at south roscommon festival

Dervish singer Cathy Jordan is to be honoured by South Roscommon Singers Festival later this month.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, October 23 next in Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon town with  the 'Annie McNulty Award’ Presentation Concert . This year’s accolade is being presented to Roscommon’s own Cathy Jordan, who has been fronting trad group Dervish for almost a quarter of a decade.

Together, they have played to fans in hundreds of cities across 40 countries, including gigs at the Great Wall of China, the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and at the biggest rock music festival in the world in Rio to 250,000 people. In 2012, Cathy released her debut solo album’All The Way Home’.

Born in Scramogue, Co Roscommon, the youngest of seven children, Cathy had traditional music in her blood. Both her parents were singers, as were her siblings, and she was performing with them from the age of three.

A self-taught guitar, bodhran, bones and bouzouki player, she joined Dervish in 1991 and has been on the road ever since, This year she won great acclaim for her presentation of the Fleadh Cheoil on TG4.  Cathy joins a line of legendary traditional singers who have previously won the Annie McNulty award including Robbie McMahon, Mick Maloney, Sarah and Rita Keane, Nora Butler, Seán Garvey, Pauline Hanley and Jimmy Crowley.

The concert is set to be a real cornucopia of delights featuring Martha Burns, Washington DC, 'Lynched’, Dublin, guest of honour Cathy Jordan, and a whole host of other performers. The concert will be followed by a bluegrass session in the bar with 'King Street Blues’ from Virginia.

This year’s festival takes place on the October Holiday Weekend in Knockcroghery and Lecarrow, as in previous years, and also, for the first time, at a number of venues in Roscommon Town.

The line-up of events for the weekend  is:
Friday, October 24
12 noon: Lunchtime Concert – Bluegrass & Old Time
Venue: Gleeson’s Town House, The Square, Roscommon.
2.30pm: Song Saunter & Talk at Mote Park
Assembly – 2.00pm at Gleeson’s Town House
4.00pm: The Gathering Session - Trans-Atlantic Fusion
Venue: J.J. Harlow’s, The Square, Roscommon.
7.30pm: Welcoming Reception in Murray’s, Knockcroghery
8pm: Song Talk ... 'The Bard of Coolmeen’
Bríd Duffy & Hugh McGrath on the life & times of Josie McDermott
9pm: Singing Session - Theme: Paths across the Ocean
Venue: Murray’s Lounge, Knockcroghery – from 7.30pm

Saturday, October 25
11am: Song Talk ... 'While We Honour In Song’
Pat & Johnny Johnston lead a discussion & song session celebrating Irish Women in History
2pm: Song Talk ... 'Get Along Little Doggies’
Martha Burns sings and chats about some 'Old Time Songs’
3pm: Song Talk ... 'The Bonny Green Tree’
Helen Grehan on the songs and life of celebrated Traveller singer John Reilly
Venue: Murray’s Lounge, Knockcroghery – from 11am
2.30pm – 6.00pm: Singing in Ned’s
Singing, storytelling, lies & legend with friends, strangers & wayfarers. .
Venue: Ned’s Bar, Knockcroghery
7pm to 8.30pm: Lynched in Concert
An intimate concert with Ireland’s latest folk sensation 'Lynched’.
Venue: Murray’s Lounge ..... Adm. €10 or buy their CD, you get in FREE.
9pm – 11pm: Bluegrass and Old Time Jam Session
Venue: Ned’s Bar, Knockcroghery
9.pm 'til late: The Late Session
Venue: Murray’s Lounge

Sunday, October 26
12 Noon: Bringing it all Back Home
Traditional, Old Time & Bluegrass
Venue: Coffey’s, Lecarrow
2.30pm – 6pm: The Singers Club
Singing Session hosted by Padraic King & Tuam Singers Circle
PLUS: 'A Roving Heart’ with Elle Marie O’Dwyer – 4.00 to 4.30pm.
Venue: The Clay Pipe Lounge, Knockcroghery.
7pm: 'In Flanders Fields’
Jim Bainbridge & Chris Miles with songs relating to W.W.1 (1914 – 1918).
Venue: Murray’s Bar, Knockcroghery
9pm – 11pm: Traditional & Old Time Jam Session
Venue: The Clay Pipe Lounge, Knockcroghery
9pm 'til late: 'Comic Songs & Storytelling’
Venue: Murray’s Bar, Knockcroghery

Monday, October 27
9pm: Pure Americana Magic in J.J’s with King Street Bluegrass, Martha Burns & Friends.
Venue: J.J. Harlow’s, The Square, Roscommon.