ENTERTAINMENT: Seamie O’Dowd to launch album in Castlebar tonight

Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Seamie O’Dowd, esteemed for his musical abilities and love of instruments, has played across the globe and earned the respect of fellow musicians and traditional music fans alike. This Thursday, November 16, he will be launching his much-anticipated new fiddle album ‘Further Down the Line’ at the Linenhall Arts Centre.

Famed for his live performances, O’Dowd has previously played with legendary talents like Elvis Costello, Mark Knofler, Townes Van Zandt, Davy Spillane and Máire Brennan. This Castlebar gig offers local audiences the wonderful chance to witness his playing prowess live and up close in an intimate setting.

Musician and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Doocey, one of the Irish music scene's most in-demand accompanists, will support O’Dowd on the night. Opening proceedings is renowned Mayo native Tony Reidy, a singer/songwriter, musician and raconteur revered across the country for his music skills.

O’Dowd started learning to play the fiddle aged eight from his parents, Sheila and Joe, who both hailed from the south Sligo region and were deeply rooted in its longstanding music traditions. He made his first radio broadcast at just ten years old and was quickly established as one of the finest fiddlers of his age in the west of Ireland.

Immersed in the local session scene alongside his parents, O’Dowd was playing guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo and a number of other instruments, by the age of 18.