John Carty Announced as Sligo Traditional Artist in Residence

John Carty (Photo: Marianne Mangan)

John Carty Announced as Sligo Traditional Artist in Residence

Fiddle- and banjo-player to begin year-long Trad Ireland residency in July.

The new organisation Trad Ireland has announced fiddle- and banjo-player John Carty as Traditional Artist in Residence for County Sligo as part of a year-long initiative. The residency begins in July and focusses on creative development and community engagement.

Hawk’s Well Theatre are providing a work-space throughout the project and there will  be a number of outreach initiatives with local groups.

Trad Ireland was launched in January by musicians Tristan Rosenstock and Oisín Mac Diarmada to promote the traditional arts throughout Ireland and to develop professional development opportunities. Supported by the Arts Council, its first project was to commission research on the career opportunities available to traditional artists. Jack Talty was appointed in February to carry out the research. The organisation is also planning a conference on traditional music.

Announcing the residency Mac Diarmada said:

In John Carty we have a master musician, a leading exponent of the North Connacht style, and his participation in this residency will be a huge addition to musical life here in Sligo.

Rosenstock added:

John has devoted his musical life to the music of Sligo and his particular knowledge of the music of Sligo emigrant musicians who recorded in 1920s America makes him a wonderful fit for this role.

Carty was awarded the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Traditional Music of the Year award in 2003. He has released several solo albums on fiddle and banjo including I Will If I Can, Last Night’s Fun and At It Again. He has also recorded a number of duet albums including Pathway to the Well with flute-player Matt Molloy, At Complete Ease with fiddle-player Brian Rooney, and Settle Out of Court with his daughter, the singer and banjo player Maggie Carty.

Follow Trad Ireland on Twitter here. For more on John Carty, visit www.johncartymusic.com

Published on 21 June 2019

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