North Sligo festival’s big line-up

PORTUGUESE stick dancing and Ireland’s largest traditional music orchestra will be among the headline performances at this year’s Cos Cos Sean Nós festival in Drumcliffe and Rathcormac from May 7-13th.

The festival, now into its 12 th year, boasts its biggest programme to date with 30 live outdoor and indoor concerts and performances, many of which are free.

Highlights this year include the ‘In Tune For Life’ traditional youth orchestra from North Tipperary. Some 70 musicians and 20 dancers will provide a spectacular concert in Rathcormac Hall on Saturday, May 12 th.

The same evening, Drumcliffe Church will host something brand new in contemporary Irish trad music - Preab Meader, a creation by well-known composers Lorcán Mac Mathúna and Daire Bracken, which brings brand new rhythms to Irish contemporary music.

Portuguese Stick Dancing will make its Cos Cos debut with visiting folk group Pauliteiros who will perform a series of impromptu dances throughout the weekend.

Some popular names are making a return festival appearance, such as the Kilfenora Céilí band, who will headline the festival’s Big Celebration Céilí in Rathcormac Hall on Sunday, May 13th, at 4pm.

The Dancers Concert on Friday May 11 th in Rathcormac Hall will showcase and celebrate all forms of traditional Irish dance including Sean Nós, step and set dancing. The line-up will include past All-Ireland champion dancers such as Liam Scanlon, Emer Mulvey and Jonathan McCloy.

There will be a Sean Nós workshop on Saturday 12 th and there will be similar tutorials in bodhrán, set dancing and singing.

A festival marquee will be located in the village green at Rathcormac, and will be the venue for a range of live performances and dances through the festival.

The week begins on the bank holiday Monday with the annual 8k run and walk at Rathcormac school.

The walk starts at 11:30am, and the run begins at 12 noons.