The Billy Finn Session

As part of the Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival we are delighted to announce The Billy Finn Sessions

At The Abbey Arts Centre

Saturday 24th September

From 8pm

Tickets:€21

Omos Billy Finn / The Billy Finn Sessions will return again on Saturday, September 24^th in the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon. This year the line up can only be described as stellar. It will feature the solo uilleann piping of Ciaran Browne as well as the renowned duet of Matt Molloy (flute) and John Carty (fiddle).

Matt Molloy is considered by many to be Ireland’s greatest ever flute player. Over the past five decades he has been seen as the most dynamic player of the instrument and has featured strongly in ground breaking bands such as The Bothy Band, Planxty and The Chieftains. If further proof were needed of Matt’s stellar status it’s worth noting that space station astronaut, Cady Coleman, requested the loan of one of Matt’s flutes to take into orbit for six months given her tremendous admiration for his music.

John Carty is a multi-instrumentalist though most strongly associated with the fiddle. He has toured the world and performed in a variety of influential bands. His north Connacht heritage finds expression in his passion for the music of the likes of Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran, James Morrison, Lad O’Berine and others from the district. In many ways, John is seen as an inheritor of that tradition and one of its main interpreters. While his playing is passionate and dynamic, it remains deeply rooted in its traditional sound. As a result, it is the perfect partnering with Matt’s flute playing.

Ciaran Browne comes from a family steeped in traditional music for generations. His family connections include close friendships and playing with such luminaries as Willie Clancy, Seamus Ennis and Denis Murphy. Uilleann piping is strong with Ciaran while still a young man, he is seen as a tremendously accomplished player as well as someone who will certainly go on to serve as tradition bearer of beautiful uilleann piping for decades to come. Ciaran will perform a number of tunes on his own set of pipes but will offer the Omos Billy Finn / The Billy Finn Sessions audience a very rare opportunity to hear him play on Seamus Ennis’ marvelous and famous set of pipes which have been kindly made available to him for the concert by Padraic Mac Mathuna.

The concert, which is part of the Bluestacks Festival, will start at 8:00pm sharp with admission at €21.00. Tickets and reservations can be made in care of the Abbey Arts Centre. Early booking is advisable.