THIS concert marked the official presentation of the third Traditional Musician of the Year award to Joe Burke, one of the most loved and respected musicians in traditional music. He received a specially commissioned sculpture by John Behan and a cheque for £2,000.
Paying tribute to Burke on stage were Frankie Gavin and Mairtin O'Connor, previous recipients of the award, Carl Hession, Matt Molloy, the fiddler Andy McGann, flown in from New York, and Ann Conroy, Joe's wife. It was a night for old favourites: Bonny Kate and Jenny's Chickens, The Yellow Tinker, Sally Gardens, and the Bucks of Oranmore, Dowd's No 9 and The Galway Rambler, The Luckpenny and Pipe on the Hob, Lord McDonald's, Ballinasloe Fair and The Kid on the Mountain - all played by top-class musicians of style and personality.
In a rousing finale the musicians were joined on stage by John Cunningham, John Joe Forde and Bernie Conroy of Kilnadeema, Eileen O'Brien and Deirdre McSherry from North Tipperary and Seamus Begley, to play the Copperplate Reels, Paddy O'Brien's and The Crooked Road to Dublin.
Not only is Joe a wonderful musician of striking presence, but also a born storyteller, speaking in measured pauses as the audience hung on his every word, leaving us laughing even when we were not quite sure why.
It was a memorable night of warmth and intimacy, with the button organ reigning supreme; a celebration of past and present, music and place.
