Various venues, Stokestown, Co Roscommon Fri-Sun feilefrankmcgann.com

Contrary to the view expressed by Seamus Ennis – that the best way to play the bodhrán was with a pen knife – the folks of Strokestown are girding their loins in anticipation of the ninth Féile Frank McCann this weekend, honouring the late bodhrán player and all-round traditional music aficionado.

This year’s gathering will include the irrepressible west Kerry box player and singer Seamus Begley, along with the TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year and Clare concertina master Noel Hill. Tomorrow, an afternoon session of music, song and tall tales will be hosted by radio presenter and box player Danny O’Mahony, fiddler MacDara Ó Raghallaigh and guitarist Paul Doyle.

An autumnal boutique festival to ease musicians and singers alike into the longer, darker evenings, this gathering is less about the cult of personality than it is about relishing the vibrancy of the tradition.