Entertainment

The Dingle Peninsula, Europe’s most westerly point - located in Ireland’s stunning south-west, has long been a breeding ground for musical talent. Its geographical isolation, set against the rugged Atlantic, framed by mountains and rural expanse where the Irish language is still a vibrant force, has seen a unique culture evolve; it’s voice translated by its musical heritage. Here you will experience unique traditional Irish music, the West Kerry style which is lauded the world-over, born from generational gifts which has seen airs and the slight of instrumental hand passed down through the ages, shaped throughout the peninsula you will hear music and song that lifts the heart and invigorates the soul.

As a consequence the area pubs and venues are a hot-bed of musical activity waiting to be discovered. Dingle and West Kerry is jam-packed with pubs such as John Benny’s, O’Flaherty’s or An Droichead Beag wherelive trad at its best can be heard almost every night of the week. This is only the beginning of the story, practically every few yards there is a pub or venue where you will be treated to Irish music, singing or dance which quite simply can’t be experienced elsewhere. This musical heritage also attracts some of the world’s best known performers. In pubs like MacCarthy’s it is not unusual to stumble across the likes of Glen Hansard of the Frames, Mundy, Damien Dempsey or Mick Flannery as they gig in the pub’s intimate back-room. Mary Black, the Chieftains and Snow Patrol are also frequent visitors. Indeed the area has also produced singers, songwriters and musicians of world renown including Eoin Duignan, the Begleys, Steve Cooney, Eilis Kennedy and Pauline Scanlon (of Lumiere), Aoife Granville, Donogh Hennessy, Maidhc Dainin O Se…the list goes on. Indeed the sense of importance that musical holds in the Dingle Peninsula can be best summed up in the Other Voices series; a series of concerts hosted every year in St. James Church (also recorded for TV) which has seen Damien Rice, the Frames, the Undertones, Amy Winehouse, Lisa Hannigan, James Morrison, James Blunt, Rufus Wainwright, Elbow plus countless others perform in this intimate setting in Dingle town. So whether it’s live traditional Irish music, amazing singers or some of the biggest names in music you are after, the Dingle Peninsula is the place to be.

Other Voices, Songs from a Room the Music Series Celebrating New and Innovative Irish Voices to be filmed for RTE� Television in Dingle, County Kerry. Musicians gathered in the most westerly point of Ireland and performed before an audience of only 80 people in the 200 year old St James' Church in Dingle, County Kerry.

Dedicated to celebrating new and innovative Irish voices the first series of Other Voices, Songs From A Room included performances from The Frames, Mundy, Damien Rice, Josh Ritter and Mark Geary and produced a highly acclaimed 13 part music series for RTE Television as well as a number 1 selling album featuring all the artists who appeared on the programme.

In a region steeped in tradition and heritage that has long attracted musicians and artists from different disciplines, cutting-edge artists gathered at the most westerly point of Europe, and created an exciting and mix of modern sounds and new voices.

Check the live events guide to get a rundown of what’s happening in this musical hinterland. - www.dinglenews.com