Sixmilebridge Folk Club to host second concert of 2023 series

SIXMILEBRIDGE Folk Club will gather for their second concert of its 2023 series next weekend, writes Páraic McMahon

Gleeson’s Bar in Sixmilebridge is to host the event on Saturday March 25th which will feature Cli Donnellan

(fiddle), Bríd O'Gorman (flute), Liam Flanagan (fiddle) and Michael Landers (guitar).

Mountshannon native Cli will play a number of tracks from her debut album ‘Beneath the Hedgerow’. The founder of the Mountshan- non Trad Festival, she ran the event for a decade. She presented ‘The Morning Dew’ on Scariff Bay Community Radio from 2019 to 2021. She completed a PhD in Philosophy through music in 2018 at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. Cli is currently on the peer panel of the Arts Council of Ireland and is a mentor with Minding Creative Minds.

Originally from Liscannor, Bríd grew up in a house where music was an integral part of everyday life. Her father, a fiddle player, passed on his music to her and her siblings. She began playing the tin whistle at the age of five, then moved onto the timber flute at the age of seven.

Bríd recorded her debut album with Eoin O’Neill entitled ‘Bluebells are Blooming’. Now based in Newmarket-on-Fergus, she has been collaborated on several albums from other musicians.

Accomplished guitar player, Michael may be a native of Kildare but has been in immersed in East Clare music for over three decades since moving to Tulla. He has played with many different musicians down through the years and has performed all over the country and abroad. He plays in numerous sessions, with the Old Ground session on a Sunday night his regular gig. ed with a Bachelor of Education from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and prior to this studied at St Joseph’s secondary school in Tulla.

A member of the popular trad group, ‘North Cregg’, Liam has performed, recorded, and toured extensively with the group. The Cork man has also toured worldwide with internationally acclaimed trad band Danú. A popular player and teacher on the trad scene, he has shared the stage with many great musicians including Derek Hickey, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Ciarán O Gealbháin.

Doors open at 7.30pm and the concert commences at 8pm. No advance booking is required but a small entrance fee to cover costs will apply.

Both of Aisling’s parents Pat and Denise are sadly deceased with her mother dying in September 2021.

She is the eldest of six children, her brothers Patrick, Eoin, Liam, Ronan and Oisin are sure to be among the vocal supporters in Tralee later this year.

She has a keen interest in ballet and gymnastics, competing at a competitive level and coaching young children in the sport for many years.

Ollie Turner hosted Sunday’s event which this year saw a new collaboration with visitclare.ie. A total of €1,305 was raised from the charity raffle on the night with Sláinte an Chláir and Clare Haven chosen as the benefitting charities.

Co-ordinator Ciarán O’Connell said of this year’s winner, “Aisling is such a strong young lady who has already maneuverer many obstacles in life yet the power to drive forward and we will rally around her with the local community and the county on her journey to represent County Clare on live television this August. Aisling was chosen from some amazingly talented local ladies who all did so well and did their communities proudly”.

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