Bantry Bay

Bantry Bay was a traditional Irish music band based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The group consists of Amy Otis Wilborn (Fiddle) and Patrick Daspit (Bouzouki & Guitar). They were frequently joined by various friends, including Sandy Weisto, their sound engineer, and former member Bonnnee Beth on percussion. The group performed throughout southeast Wisconsin for both private and public events. The group’s repertoire included traditional Irish dance tunes and original melodies as well as traditional maritime tunes. Amy and Patrick are both strongly influenced by the Donegal fiddle tradition. Many dance tunes from that northern region of Ireland can be heard in their music. Their material also included traditional Irish songs, frequently with a maritime theme.

Bantry Bay began with Bonnee Beth and Patrick performing as a duo, sometimes joined by Mark Polczynski on flute, whistle & pipes. Cape Breton style fiddler Kaitlin Hahn performed with the band during parts of 2003 and 2004; she went on to perform with Atlantic Wave. Their first CD, “Set The Sails”, was released in July, 2004. Amy Otis-Wilborn, joined the group in December 2004. The group went back to performing as a duo with Amy and Patrick. Bonnee Beth no longer performed full time, but continued to make guest appearances. Bantry Bay had performed at Milwaukee’s Irish Fest, the largest Irish music festival in the world, the Maritime Heritage Festival in Port Washington, Wisconsin as well as numerous venues throughout south east Wisconsin.

The group disbanded around 2010. Bonnee Beth, Amy Otis-Wilborn and Sandy Weisto later formed a new group, Green Sails.