Only the best is good enough for Milltown

The Frank Gavigan Annual Memorial Concert is just around the corner, on Friday October 4, at Milltown Community Centre.

Last year they had a full house and no doubt they will again this year, thanks to a fantastic line-up organised by Mick Foster.

Many readers will know that the late Frank Gavigan of Milltown, Rathconrath, was held in great esteem by all who knew him, but for those who don’t, Frank was a cousin of Joe Dolan, a great musician and respected for teaching traditional music to children in the community.

He also played a lot for charity, and when he passed away, the people of Milltown, Rathconrath, decided to bestow the honour of naming their Comhaltas branch after him.

So the Frank Gavigan Annual Memorial concert is something everyone looks forward to with good reason – namely the highest calibre of names, known far and wide for their talents in traditional music.

This year they include:

Darren Breslin from Fermanagh, returning for 2013 – one of the best known button accordionists in the country; the Bridge Ceili Band of Offaly and Westmeath players – former all-Ireland champions; the Kinsella Family from Roscrea, Tipperary – known far and wide in traditional music; Fermanagh’s Annette Owens – a unique button accordionist; father and son, John and Dillon Carlos from Roscommon – great fiddlers; Eileen O’Brien of the Seery family; flautist Siobhan Ni Chonarain, who is leaving for a tour of America this week;

Noel Battle – renowned for his harmonica and guitar playing; five time all-Ireland champion sean-nós ballad singer Nora Butler; Ballynacargy Set Dancers; Mick Foster; Scotland’s Moyra Fraser; all-Ireland champion banjo player Willie Kavanagh from Ballymahon; Abbeyshrule’s Packy Campbell; banjo player Tom Kelly; Empor musician Paddy Maguire; drummer and Comhaltas tour manager Martin Murphy; Moate’s Declan and Aaron Ganley - probably the best known father and son dance duo; sean-nós dancer Sharleen McCaffrey; and accordion player with Rise the Dust, Brendan Doyle.

Compere on the night will be Shannonside’s Martin Donoghue, while the concert will recorded by Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Doors open at 7pm and admission is €15 for adults and €5 for children; tickets from any member of the Frank Gavigan Comhaltas branch.