AN award-winning trad group from Co Tyrone are to play their first gig in mainland Europe after receiving a personal invitation from the Irish Ambassador to Berlin.
The Blackwater Céilí Band will perform at the Tonn Nua festival in the German capital this weekend, following a request to headline the Irish music event from ambassador Dr Nicholas O'Brien.
The group, who were crowned All-Ireland Céilí Band Champions in 2018 at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, have described the invite as a "huge milestone" in their career.
Hailing from the Clogher Valley region, the ten-piece band describe their style as "firmly rooted in the Ulster tradition", and have in recent years grown their fanbase with performances on RTÉ, BBC and TG4.
Speaking of headlining Tonn Nua, which translates as 'new wave' and aims to showcase the best new music in the Irish trad scene, Blackwater flutist James McCaffrey, from Dromore, said it was an "incredible honour".
"The reaction to the announcement has been fantastic and we are so grateful for the support and kind messages we have received from followers at home and across Europe," he said.
“This will mark our first trip to mainland Europe so we have been planning ahead for some weeks to turn the idea into reality - bringing along new arrangements and music to mark the occasion."
