Concertina effort for Kilrush

The 12th annual Éigse Mrs Crotty traditional music festival saw upwards of 10,000 visitors dancing on the streets of Kilrush, Co Clare.

Attendance figures for daily concertina classes were up on previous years, while the "céilí in the square" remained one of the most popular features of this growing arts festival.

Mrs Crotty, a native of Cooraclare, was one of the most respected exponents of the concertina in west Clare. For many years she ran a bar in Kilrush Square - Crotty's - with her husband Micho. While Micho ran the bar, his wife could be found sitting in a corner, teaching students from far and wide the intricacies of the concertina.

After her death in 1960, several attempts were made to hold a commemorative event to mark her contribution to traditional music, but it wasn't until 1994 that concrete plans were put in place.

Speaking yesterday, local councillor Liam O'Looney outlined the continued importance of the festival: "From a business point view, it's one of the focal points of the whole summer, and an important way for us to attract tourists to town for the weekend. We had 1,500 every day at the sessions in the square alone and we seem to have had our busiest year."