Iconic folk hero to make a return to reinvigorated club

Iconic folk hero to make a return to reinvigorated club

19 September 2012

THE Rath Celtair Folk Music Club will launch its autumn programme next Friday with the return of the club’s old friend Tommy Sands.

Tommy, whose family launched the original Downpatrick Folk Music Club in the 1970s, will make a welcome return to the club next Friday evening where he promises to entral the audience with his most recent work.

From pioneering tours with his famous family, playing Carnegie Hall and Moscow’s Olympic Stadium, he has become one of Ireland’s most powerful songwriters and enchanting performers.

He enjoys celebrity status in many parts of the world, tempered by artistic integrity and the sorrow of personal tragedy in his war torn homeland.

Walking the road between two cultures, he dreams of an Ireland without conflict.

Many of his songs are about Ireland, from its troubled past to its indomitable spirit and a vision of “a land of dreaming”.

By using music to bridge cultural differences, he shares a vision with songwriters instigating social change such as Phil Ochs, Joan Baez and close friend Pete Seeger.

With a new album and numerous concert dates, Tommy now tours with son Fionan and daughter Moya.

His appearance at Rath Celtair Folk Music Club will be the first of three concerts lined up before Christmas.

The legendary Steve Cooney and Brendan Begley will also make a welcome return to the club on November 2, while Andy Irvine is expected to give a sell-out performance on Friday, December 7.

Danny McGreevy, who launched Rath Celtair Folk Music Club last year in a bid to revive the local folk music scene following the closure of Downpatrick Folk Club over 10 years ago, said he was very excited with the new season’s line-up.

He said there was great “touch of symmetry” with the forthcoming performance of Tommy Sands, whose family launched the original club, while he was delighted to have secured Cooney, Begley and Irvine for November and December.

“Cooney and Begley have been stars on the music scene for decades, yet Cooney is only now launching his first album, which is something for us all to look forward too,” he said.

‘He has played with so many big names including Chuck Berry, Mark Knopfler and David Gilmour but it was in the 1990s that he paired up with singer and button accordionist Séamus Begley.

“Begley and Cooney became one of the most popular

traditional acts of the 1990’s and we are looking forward to

experiencing one of their energetic performances at Down Arts Centre.”

For further information about this season’s Rath Celtair Folk Club gigs, contact Down Arts Centre on 028 4461 0747 or email info@celtairmusic.com

Tickets for Tommy Sands are now available for £12 (£10 for concessions) at Down Arts Centre. The show will begin at 8pm.