"When we started this festival in 2003, my belief was that a sufficient audience with interest in the most authentic form of Irish music must surely exist; that the music itself does not have to be shaped and bent to meet the perceived needs of an audience.
In its purest form it speaks a universal language. I have sat through almost all of the performances each year of this festival and every time I leave Bantry, I do so with a renewed faith in the strength of this music." Martin Hayes [Artistic Director]

As ever Ireland’s unique Irish Traditional Music Festival will be headlined by Martin Hayes, the fiddler from East Clare, whose distinctive touch and extravagant virtuosity has brought the tradition to new levels. His famous trance-evoking sets with Dennis Cahill have mesmerised audiences all over the world.

So the five days of music-making in Bantry House and St Brendan's Church, Bantry, Co. Cork will be opened and closed by the resident master.

Programme details will be announced mid-2012

Photo credit: Stephen Power www.adareimages.com