Lisa O'Neill, Scullion, Martin Hayes and more to play at Bantry's Masters Of Tradition next month

Following on from the successes of the West Cork Chamber Music Festival and the West Cork Literary Festival earlier this summer, Bantry is set to welcome back Masters Of Tradition. The Irish music festival, now in its 17th year, takes place in the seaside town from August 21-25.

This year's festival is headlined by its Artistic Director, the renowned fiddler Martin Hayes. The Gloaming member will be joined by Dennis Cahill, guitarist Steve Conney, sean nós singer and harpist Síle Denvir, dancer Sandy Silva and writer Timothy O'Grady for Masters Of Tradition's opening concert on August 21. The evening of words and music takes inspiration from O'Grady's award-winning novel I Could Read The Sky.

Many other icons of the Irish music scene will feature in performances, collaborations and talks over the five days of the festival, including folk songwriter and singer Lisa O’Neill; musician, film maker and broadcaster Philip King; bass, baritone, treble and piccolo concertina player Cormac Begley; Irish folk rock band Scullion; harpist, fiddler, pianist and vocalist Florian Blancke; one of Ireland’s most outstanding traditional accordion players Dermot Byrne; Uilleann piper Pádraic Keane; virtuoso performer on the viola da gamba Liam Byrne; one of Co. Clare’s most distinctive fiddle players Yvonne Casey; banjo player Páraic Mac Donnchadha; fiddle player Liam O’Connor; and Mohammad Syfkhan, a Syrian refugee living in Leitrim, whose music plays an important role in providing a bridge between the Kurdish community in Ireland and the local community.

"As always we will journey to the heart of Irish music, song and dance where we will also discover new artists who have each embraced these traditions in their own unique way," Martin Hayes revealed in a statement about the festival. "We will also continue with the expansion of the festival that began last year. We encourage you to experience our talks and secret lunch time concerts."

For more information, see westcorkmusic.ie.