With the Arts Bill 2002 now at its report stage in the Dáil, the Minister for the Arts, John O’Donoghue, has confirmed the abandonment of his predecessor’s plan to set up a special standing committee within the Arts Council (with one of its most prominent members being Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, director-general of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann) to control funding for traditional music.

Regular readers of this column will remember that vociferous protests against the establishment of such a committee were made by such industry figures as Nicholas Carolan of the Irish Traditional Music Archive, Katie Verling of the Glór Irish Music Centre, Muiris Ó Rocháin of the Willie Clancy Summer School, Gary Pepper of the Feakle Festival, Altan manager Tom Sherlock, and Terry Moylan of Na Píobairí Uilleann; the final nail was apparently driven to the proposal’s coffin when on 5 December last a delegation of musicians including Christy Moore, Paddy Moloney, Paul Brady, Liam O’Flynn, and Maighread & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill staged a picket at the gates of Leinster House.

The Minister has however said that, “It is of immense importance that there is a coherent strategy for the traditional arts and that this strategy is financed”, and wants to reserve the right to set up temporary committees to deal with areas such as traditional music and to make recommendations (although not, crucially, decisions) as to what elements should be funded, and how.

It remains to be seen what will come of this compromise suggestion, but at least the spectre of the keys to the moneybox being placed in the hands of individuals with an agenda to promote appears to have been banished for the time being. It’s good to know that activism can actually generate results every now and then…

Following an extensive refurbishment project, the upstairs venue at the Cobblestone in Smithfield is once again open for business. While the concert series formerly hosted there by the inimitable Paul Lee has moved permanently to its new home at Mother Redcap’s, owner Tom Mulligan is organising gigs at the Cobblestone on a more or less ad hoc basis.

Among the events scheduled in the immediate future are the launches of two albums I’m looking forward to hearing: bouzouki player Niall Ó Callanáin unveils his new live album on June 13, while June 26 sees the release of the third album by piper Néillidh Mulligan – who just happens to be Tom’s brother! Entitled An Tobar Glé, it was recorded in Dublin’s Cois Tine Studio (run by singer and dobro player Frankie Lane) and mastered at Spring Records in Rostrevor, Co. Down.

Also coming up at the Cobblestone are a live recording by the band Providence on June 27, and a show by the Mexican group Viento y Fuego on July 5.

“We haven’t lined up very much at this stage,” says Tom, “but it’s going to happen!” Both he and Paul Lee are anxious to point out that there’s no great rift involved; the long closure occasioned by the renovations made it necessary for Paul to make a firm commitment to the replacement venue, and he’s very happy with the way things are going at Mother R’s, where forthcoming concerts range from Karan Casey (June 7) to Tir na nÓg (June 14), Kevin Doherty (June 20) and the Sharon Shannon Band with Frankie Lane & Paul Kelly (June 26).

Singers, dancers and musicians interested in attending the seventh annual Blas Summer School of Irish Traditional Music & Dance at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Music Centre will be delighted to hear that tuition scholarships are now available for students at any level from beginner to advanced. Commencing on June 23, Blas offers an intensive two-week course with a superb lineup of tutors – Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Karan Casey, Matt Cranitch, Tommy Hayes, Brian Finnegan, dancer Colin Dunne and many more. To apply, just send a letter stating why you think you are deserving of one of these bursaries to Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain, Director, Blas Summer School, Irish World Music Centre, Foundation Building, University of Limerick, Limerick, or Email . Further information on Blas and the scholarship programme is available on www.ul.ie/~iwmc/Blas.

Three sisters from Malin, Co. Donegal known as The Henry Girls are going great guns with their debut CD Between Us (reviewed elsewhere in this issue). Contrary to what you might think, the surname shared by sisters Lorna, Karen and Joleen is actually McLaughlin: “Up here in Donegal there’s a thousand million McLaughlins, so every family has a nickname, and we’re Henrys cos our grandfather was Henry,” explains Lorna.

Funded by the local rural development board and Donegal County Council, the album was recorded over a scant five days last summer, with Máire Breatnach producing, and since its launch in April has been getting airplay on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Foyle, Q101, Q102 and Highland Radio; a couple of tracks have also been used as incidental music by TG4. The girls had a sell-out show at the Cathedral Quarter Festival in Belfast, and have recently signed a distribution deal with Outlet Recordings. “We felt we needed to get something out there,” says Lorna, “and now that we’re more established, we’ll be working hard on material for a second album, which will have a much more defined sound.”

Keep an eye out for American singer/songwriter Bob Cheevers, due over here on June 12 to begin a 40-show tour of Ireland, Scotland and England, with support from Stephen McArdle on the Irish shows, which run from June 13-22. Descended from County Wexford forebears, Bob grew up in Memphis and later moved to Nashville, where he organised and produced a yearly benefit series of shows for Nashville’s Alive Hospice Organisation at the legendary Bluebird Café. His 1997 album Gettysburg To Graceland earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk CD, and his songs have been featured in assorted films and television shows.

RTÉ Radio 1’s Late Session show will be recording an amazing-sounding series of concerts at the newly refurbished Liberty Hall on four consecutive Sunday nights, starting on June 15. Presenter Áine Hensey will be introducing an impressive array of musicians and singers: the opening concert on June 15 features piper Liam O’Flynn with guitarist Steve Cooney and TG4 Young Musician of the Year, fiddler Liam O’Connor; also playing will be Sliabh Luachra fiddle and accordion duo Páidí O’Connor and Aoife O’Keeffe, and singer Áine Uí Cheallaigh from Ring, Co. Waterford. The concerts are being recorded for transmission in September and October. For further details, ring (01) 872 1122 or listen to The Late Session on Sunday nights at 10pm.

Musicians and singers with news to share can e-mail Sarah on [email protected]