A TRADITIONAL Irish folk and ballad band which has won worldwide acclaim is heading to The Concorde on Sunday.

The Kilkennys are noted for their dynamic arrangements, energetic performances and charismatic rapport with audiences across the globe.

In the past years they have shared the stage with renowned Irish artists such as Shane McGowan, Sharron Shannon and Finbar Furey and have also performed on the main stage at Milwaukee Irish Fest - the largest Irish Festival in the world.

The band was established between schoolmates and began touring the length and breadth of Ireland in 1998.

In 2008 they decided to name themselves The Kilkennys after their beloved home, Kilkenny City.

Now based in South East Ireland, the group have evolved through the years and are anchored by founding members Davey Cashin (vocals, mandolin, banjo, guitar, whistles), Tommy Mackey (bass, acoustic guitar, vocals), long time member Robbie Campion (banjo, guitar, madolin, vocals) and latest recruit Mick Martin ( bodhran, uilleann pipes, low whistles, guitar, vocals).

After releasing their live album and DVD, Meet The Kilkennys, radio and TV appearances soon followed, which included RTE’s Late Late Show. They preformed their single Shine on Kilkenny, an original song released to coincide with Kilkenny winning the All Ireland hurling final for a fourth year in a row, a sporting celebration also headlined by the band.

Their much acclaimed studio album The Colour Of Freedom featured a mix of original material and well known ballads like Rocky Road to Dublin and South Australia.

The Kilkennys aim to preserve their status for re-introducing Irish folk and ballads to a young audience while capturing the hearts of the more seasoned traditional music lover.

One of the most recognised features of The Kilkennys is their vocal abilities and strong harmonies and Irish eyes will be smiling in what promises to be a great night of toe tapping and hand clapping entertainment.

Duncan Eaton