Athy Festival launch: a hot time in the old town

Tony O'Brien receives Clancy's sponsorship cheque from Emma O'Brien; at rear, Clem O'Brien

The cosy back bar in Clancy's on Leinster Street, Athy, Co. Kildare, is a favourite venue for traditional music sessions in the town. On Friday 15 May it was the place where the Athy Bluegrass Music Association held the launch party for this year's festival (9-12 July). There were almost more musicians taking part than the bar would hold, but enough room was found for a packed and enthusiastic audience drawn from the bluegrass mafia of Kildare and adjoining counties.

The NTB, performing one of Niall's tributes to Bill Monroe

Woodbine, Bending the Strings, the Niall Toner Band, the Sullivan Brothers, and Paul McEvoy all performed; and nearly all these musicians somehow squeezed together behind the microphones to wind up the evening with a jam on two songs. Food was provided for everyone present on a generous scale. In conclusion Tony O'Brien expressed the ABMA's gratitude to Clancy's, which is a major sponsor of this year's festival. The night air was chilly, but there was undoubtedly a hot time in the old town that night.

Bending the Strings