FRIDAY 5TH AUGUST | 5.30PM | THE BAND HALL N91 YY96
TICKETS: €15

Mick Foster – Mick Foster is one-half of the International duo Foster and Allen. Mick is a three-time All Ireland Piano Accordion Champion winning his titles in 1964, Clones, 1968, Clones and 1970 in Listowel. Mick has toured extensively playing piano accordion with Foster and Allen in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA South Africa and all of Ireland and the UK bringing the popularity of the Piano Accordion worldwide. A member of the Frank Gavigan Branch CCE, Mick can be found at sessions in the local Rathconrath Pub, Gunnings. A regular on television and radio (he started recording for RTE at the age of 15 ) Mick has recorded all types of music during his career but his main love is Traditional Irish Music. Mick has been attending All Ireland Fleadhs since Gorey in 1962.

Moyra Fraser –  Moyra Fraser -Foster Moyra wife of Mick Foster is originally from Aberdeen, Scotland and started playing music at the age of 8. Moyra is a multi-instrumentalist playing the piano accordion, piano, ,flute, clarinet and saxophone but her first love is Irish and Scottish Traditional Music. Moyra is the keyboard player and Musical Director of the international duo, Foster and Allen. Moyra produced and directed radio shows in Scotland and was the Musical Director of an extremely popular TV show “Sing Something…” and composed the theme music for the series. Moyra teaches music as well as arranging and producing recordings for various artists and is in demand as a session musician in many recording studios Moyra is a regular on Radio Na Gaelteacht, RTE TV and TG4 and has composed and published songs and music. The Foster and Allen new release, “The Mullingar Fleadh“ was co-written by Moyra and her friend the late Brigid Walshe. Moyra is a regular at the Frank Gavigan Brach CCE music sessions in Gunnings, Rathconrath.

Frank Gavigan Book Launch –

Frank ( a 1^st cousin of the legendary Joe Dolan) was a self-taught accordion player and fiddle player who was a teacher and mentor to many.  Handwritten tunes were loving recreated into a book of music, 34 favourite , traditional “session” tunes of Franks including photographs, illustrations and little quotes from the man himself. Frank was a great teacher and he was an All-Ireland Accordion Champion in 1952. This year will be the 70^th anniversary of this event.  Frank’s legacy lives on in the Westmeath area and we hope that this book will bring his talent, personality, sense of fun and love for the traditional music of Ireland to a wider audience. Dr Labhras O Murchu, Ardstiurthoir CCE will officially launch the book in Mullingar. The cost of the book will be 15 Euro and also selling the “Rathconrath Ceili Band “cd and other CDs in the traditional Irish genre all at 15 Euro per CD.