A now famous annual event running for more than 30 years as part of the International Fiddlers Green Festival in Rostrevor, the Music of Healing takes its title from a song of that name written by Pete Seeger and Tommy Sands.
The concert features much discussion and uses music and song to unite opposite sides in the Northern Ireland conflict; it was first chaired by local celebrity Mary McAleese in 1995 before she became 8th President of Ireland and since then by Tommy Sands. Every year he invites leading politicians and world-famous musicians and local talent to join him on stage and discuss the hard hitting topics affecting society at the time.
After being coaxed into singing a song on stage at a previous Music of Healing event PUP leader, the late David Irvine said “Tommy Sands is the only man without a paramilitary army that can intimidate me.”
Music of Healing 2023
Following our music and healing seminar the annual Music of Healing Concert in 2023 featured performances from a wide range of different musical cultures musicians from the Ulster Scots tradition and a group from Warrenpoint Comhaltas. Tommy Sands this year awarded the Creative Arts Award to Archie Fisher. Performances from afternoon speakers including Dr Bruce Victor, Bróna McVittie and Dr Gabriel Scally were complemented by an introduction to Greek music and culture by Bruce Clark.
Music of Healing (past events)
