Clareen banjos as prizes on 'Roots Freeway'

Following on this morning's post about Roots Freeway's return to the airwaves as from tomorrow (Sat. 5 June), Niall Toner says:

It's good to be back, and I can guarantee a goodly amount of bluegrass and bluegrass-related news on the show.

You may remember that I gave away a couple of Gibson guitars on the last series. Well, this time 'round we are going 'home produce', and I will be offering a superb prize of two - yes, two - handmade Clareen banjos as prizes: one tenor for the trad/jazz folks, and a five-string for the bluegrassers/folk players! These superb instruments are custom-made by Tommy Cussen in Co. Galway, and are valued at €1,500.00 each!

The competition will be based on questions which will be related to clues contained in the 'Roots Freeway' broadcasts, so listeners will have to listen carefully to each show over a ten-week period to get each clue and to be in with a chance of winning. The clues will start coming in about two weeks time, so take warning folks... Tune in live, or make sure someone records it for you, or as a last resort, listen back on RTE.IE/Radio/Roots Freeway.

This is probably one of the finest prizes ever offered on RTE Radio One, and full credit is due to Tom Cussen of Clareen Banjos for his generosity. His full range can be viewed here.

The photo shows a Clareen Special 5-string.