Traditional musician assaulted in Galway

GARDAÍ IN Connemara are continuing investigations into an assault on a leading traditional musician in southwest Galway last week.

Concertina player Noel Hill (50) is recovering after the incident at a pub near Leitir Mór in south Connemara on December 26th.

Mr Hill was out with friends, and sustained head and facial injuries on the premises when a man is said to have followed him into the bathroom. He was taken to University College Hospital, Galway for treatment and released at the weekend.

Mr Hill is originally from west Clare but has been living in Carraroe, Co Galway.

He has been described as "Ireland's greatest concertina player" by piper Séamus Ennis, and has played with musicians and singers such as Mairéad ní Dhómhnaill, Christy Moore and Paul Brady, Tony Mac Mahon and Tony Linnane.

He teaches concertina in Ireland and in north America.