Contacts
Padraig Kerins +353-71-9165283
Sean Lyons +353-71-9165880
Ann Mulligan +353-71-9167892
Co-ordinator: Martin Enright +353-71-9167560
Email postmaster@morrison.ie
Web http://www.morrison.ie/festival.htm
Our branch of Riverstown is a fully affiliated branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoírí Eireann which is a national (now international) organisation which promotes Irish Traditional Music. It is a large and thriving branch and our activities are that of the normal that are carried out throughout the country.
However, our special endeavour each year is the James Morrison Traditional Music Festival which we run during the weekend of the August Bank Holiday weekend and which is sponsored by Sligo County Council.
The festival commemorates the musical genius of James Morrison who was born in Drumfin near Riverstown in 1893. He emigrated to America in 1915 and became famous for his band which played in the Irish Dance halls of Manhattan in New York. He was also a composer and teacher of Irish music. He, together with Michael Coleman and Paddy Killoran (all from Sligo) introduced the “Sligo Style” of fiddle playing which has continued to be played in New York to the present day. The festival starts on the Friday nights and continues on the Saturday and Sunday.
