Looking for a unique musical and cultural experience?

Would you like a weekend of exhilarating traditional Irish entertainment in the heart of County Kerry, Ireland next June?

Then the World Bodhrán Championships is for you.

The festival takes place from 30th May to 2nd June 2008 in the beautiful mid-Kerry town of Milltown. Promising to attract bodhrán players and bodhrán lovers from all over the globe, this unique occasion is the only festival of its kind anywhere in the world.

Nestled between the McGillycuddys Reeks of South Kerry and the Sliabh Mis mountains of the Dingle Peninsula, Milltown has been home to the annual County Fleadh Cheoil Festival for many years, including the provincial Munster Fleadh Cheoil Festival in 2002.

With a growing reputation for musical and cultural initiatives and unique traditional festivals, Milltown has become synonymous with the very best of Irish traditional music, dance and song.

The World Bodhrán Championships focusses on the many aspects of the bodhrán - the making of the bodhrán, its history and role in Irish traditional music and of course, playing the bodhrán. As well as competitions to find the best bodhrán player in the world, other events planned include concerts, workshops, street sessions and world percussion performances.

Far too often, the bodhrán has played second fiddle (pardon the pun) to many other Irish traditional music instruments. This is a reputation that is not deserved. Our aim is to prove that it as intrinsic and vibrant a part of Irish music as the flute, the fiddle, the pipes or the box.

We do this by providing a space in which to allow bodhrán players and makers to come together and their experiences, skills and innovations. For those who do not wish to compete, we host a range of workshops and concerts for those wishing to learn and improve their skills.

Like any other drum or percussion instrument, the bodhrán touches the soul and our inner rhythms and the experiences of those at the first festivals we hosted prove that this is an innovative and envigorating event which will go from strength to strength.

The World Bodhrán Championships is run by a voluntary committee built around the local branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Eireann and has a full time office based at the Community Centre in Milltown. The Chairman of the World Bodhrán Championships is Dan Cronin and its Chief Executive is Owen O'Shea.