The Mick Hoy/Eddie Duffy Traditional Music Festival is cross-community and, indeed, so are the venues for next week-end's programme.

Planning for this year's event began in June when the committee, some former, some new faces, had a look over previous year's minutes for ideas and guidance under the chairmanship of Sean Higgins.

Unlike most committees, it is served by three joint secretaries, one of whom, Irene Kirkpatrick had previously served as a committee member representing the local pubs (The Kozy Bar). One would have thought that getting the various acts together for the one week-end would be a tough exercise, but Irene said no.

"They were very helpful. Some of them would have been coming this past 20 years, from the older generation. They would include the musicians from the Isle of Man. Then, we would have acts from across the Border, so it's not alone cross-community, it's also, a cross-border and, indeed, we'd be expecting music lovers to come across as well."

A committee of 12 help out the main officers who are - Chairman, Sean Higgins; Vice chairman Liam Elliott; Joint secretaries, Irene Kirkpatrick, Michelle Hoy and Yvonne Burke; Treasurer Seamus O'Dare.