FANS of Irish music had a rare treat on Saturday night at the Red Lion Hotel, while raising a good sum for Salisbury Hospice.

Salisbury's Finbarr Sheehan has brought many fine Irish musicians to Salisbury and on Saturday he welcomed Breaking Trad.

Breaking Trad are a trio of top-class traditional musicians. For their visit to Salisbury they brought special guest Gino Lupari, bodhrán and percussion player.

From their opening collection of reels the audience was stamping and clapping.

Guitarist Mike Galvin had no trouble getting the crowd singing on "From Clare to Here" and it wasn't long before people were moving chairs out of the way to make room for dancing.

Their set included dance tunes in different styles from reels and jigs to polkas and waltzes. They provided plenty of variety with a few songs, and accordion payer Donal Murphy and fiddler Niall Murphy each played dazzling intrumental pieces.

They brought their second set to a rousing end with "Farewell to Connacht" which had most of the crowd on their feet. Speaking after the gig, fiddler Niall Murphy said that they had really enjoyed playing to such an appreciative audience. Finbarr's Irish music gigs always raise funds for Salisbury Hospice.

On this occasion a proportion of the ticket price was earmarked as a donation in memory of Salisbury mum Lyn Futcher who passed away two years ago.

Thanks to the good attendance over two hundred pounds was raised.