July 13th –19th, 2014

www.sssschool.org

The 28th South Sligo Summer School of traditional music, song and dance takes place in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo from July 13th to 19th, 2014. New features this year include a series of three Composing Workshops, facilitated by Sligo fiddle player and composer Gavin Collis on Monday, 14th and Wednesday, July 16th, with Charlie Lennon facilitating the final workshop on Friday, July 18th. Masterclasses with fiddle player, Manus Maguire and sisters, Michelle and Louise Mulcahy (concertina and flute), a Mixed Instrument Adult Class for beginners and improvers with Fiona Doherty, two Interactive Talks on South Sligo fiddlers Michael Coleman and Fred Finn, on Tuesday, July 15th and Thursday, July 17th, presented by Daithí Gormley and Philip Duffy respectively, are all further highlights of this years’ programme. So too is a Tribute Concert on Monday, 14th July, honouring button accordion tutor Anne Conroy Burke, who has been teaching at the school since 2001.
(more…)

July 12th – 26th, 2014

www.eaf.ie

The Home of Tradition and Music

The Earagail Arts Festival is delighted to announce the start of another exciting year, with a host of special events, gigs, theatre, comedy and visual arts to entertain audiences young and old.

With an extensive programme throughout Inishowen, Letterkenny and West Donegal, featuring the very best of local and also international performances, this year’s festival will be your one stop shop for great summer entertainment.
(more…)

July 26th – August 2nd, 2014

www.scoilacla.com

Achill Island, Co. Mayo

The annual Scoil Acla summer school takes place on Achill Island, Co. Mayo. Scoil Acla is Ireland’s oldest summer school, originally founded in 1910 and re–launched in 1985.

Scoil Acla follows the usual format of daily music classes which run from Monday to Saturday on the following instruments, accordion, banjo, flute, concertina, fiddle, harp, tin whistle, uilleann pipes and bodhrán with beginners, intermediate and advanced students being catered for on all instruments.  Other workshops available are in Art, creative writing, basket weaving, dancing and a course on Gaeilg’ Acla, the Achill dialect of Irish. Throughout the week they have recitals, poetry readings, creative writing readings, indoor and outdoor concerts, sessions, walks, talks, exhibitions and much more. Scoil Acla invites a musician in residence each year to attend the summer school. Previous musicians in residence include: John E Lavelle, Joe Burke and Ann Conroy Burke, Liam O’ Connor, John Carty, Mary Bergin, Laoise Kelly, Catherine McEvoy, Michael O’Raghallaigh, Mick O’Brien,Treasa Ní Cheannabhain, Brenndán Ó Beaglaoich and Eileen O’Brien many of whom have joined them as tutors. Why not join them on Ireland’s largest island for a summer school of music, culture, history agus gaeilge. Is i ár dTeanga is ár gceol ár nDúchas
(more…)

June 23rd – July 4th, 2014

www.blas.ie

The Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance returns to the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick for the 18th successive year from June 23rd – July 4th, 2014.

The summer school will be launched on Monday 23rd June where students attending the course at the University’s Irish World Academy will benefit from the wisdom and tutelage of eminent figures of the Traditional World such as Martin Hayes, Dónal Lunny, Steve Cooney, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, John Carty, Colin Dunne, Noirín Ní Riain, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Michelle Mulcahy, Niall Keegan, Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain, Mats Melin, Aileen Dillane, Sandra Joyce and Michael Ryan, with more being added all the time.

See our interview with Director, Ernestine Healy in this edition.

For further information on all aspects of the Blas Summer School, see www.blas.ie or contact Ernestine Healy, Director, Blas Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance, Irish World Academy, University of Limerick. Email: Ernestine.Healy@ul.ie
or Tel. 061 202653.

June 16th – 22nd, 2014

www.galwaysessions.com

This year the Galway Sessions festival presents a packed programme of events including concerts, recitals, parades, street entertainment, a singers club, lectures and an extensive pub–session trail at various venues throughout the historic medieval centre of Galway City.

The theme of this year’s festival is composers. Galway is extremely fortunate to be home to a great many contemporary tune–smiths and song–writers who continue to enrich and add to the traditional music repertoire. Those who will perform their compositions at the various concerts and recitals throughout the week include: Mairtin O’Connor, Marcus Hernon, Johnny Óg Connolly, Charlie Lennon, Michael McCauge and singers Don Stiffe, Tim Lyons and Noelie MacDonnell. One full day of events will be devoted to the compositions of the legendary Paddy Fahy one of the most prolific and respected composers of traditional music this era. His music will be performed by Liz and Yvonne Kane, Breda and Claire Keville and Liam Lewis amongst others. Also featuring in the festival will be Scottish composer and accordion player John Burns from Stirling.
(more…)

www.musicnetwork.ie
Music Network today unveiled its Autumn Season 2014 with an exceptional line-up of talented Irish and international musicians that will tour to nineteen towns and villages across fifteen counties from 16/9/14 to 29/11/14.  The eclectic programme features a range of genres and styles including a Scottish and Irish traditional music tour; a solo fiddle and film show by one of Ireland’s most adventurous and prolific musicians; an Appalachian roots band direct from the Virginian mountains; a very personal programme from one of the world’s rising cello stars and a very special commissioned tour for children and families.

Describing what’s on offer, Music Network CEO Sharon Rollston explains, “Our season gets off to a flying start in September as Irish squeeze box maestro and raconteur Séamus Begley joins Scottish duo Catriona McKay and Chris Stout in a celebration of the music of the Northern Isles. All three are blessed with the gift of spontaneity, so who knows what will happen! In October, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh sets off on a unique journey to the heart of Irish music. His mission: to boldly explore the beauty and humour of traditional music, aided and abetted by his 10-string fiddle, a film projector, and a host of “virtual” guests. ”

She continues, “Then it’s off to the Appalachian mountains as Virginian act Furnace Mountain unleash their own distinctive take on rootsy Americana, breathing new life into old-time, bluegrass and folk tunes.  Meanwhile there’s festive warmth for all the family as five outstanding musicians perform a new work specially commissioned from composer Brian Irvine and are joined by shadow puppeteer and animator Matthew Robins in an exploration of winter wonder in our first ever children’s tour, A Most Peculiar Wintery Thing. This is the first show from a new strategic partnership between Music Network and The Ark that aims to create accessible and high-quality music performance experiences for child and family audiences. Our last tour of 2014 ends the season on a high note as the award-winning German cellist Leonard Elschenbroich offers insights into music and the life of a musician – while serving up some of the most exquisite solo cello playing you’ll hear this year.”
(more…)

Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Sunday, May 18th, 8pm
€15/€12

“The musical chemistry between Scottish fiddle legend Alasdair Fraser and young cello ace Natalie Haas is a rare, felicitous thing.” - Boston Herald

“Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s beautiful airs had us begging for more. Every corner seemed to echo with her voice long after the music had stopped.” - Dublin Evening Press

Music Network Presents The Iona Connection: Nasc Oileán Í, Featuring Alasdair Fraser (fiddle), Natalie Haas (cello) and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (fiddle/voice) on Sunday 18 May 2014 at Riverbank Arts Centre, Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Music Network is delighted to present Scotland’s Alasdair Fraser on fiddle, Californian cellist Natalie Haas and Donegal singer and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh in an exploration of connections between traditional Scots, Irish and American Old Time music. Join them on Sunday 18 May at Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare as they follow in the musical footsteps of tunes that have emigrated and found their way home once more.

The remote Hebridean isle of Iona is a unique place, sitting at the crossroads of Irish and Scottish culture and at the same time a sending place for monks and travellers sailing west to the New World. It’s the inspiration for Scots fiddler Alasdair Fraser, Californian cellist Natalie Haas and Donegal native Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh as they explore the connections between traditional Irish, Scottish and Old Time American music, following in the musical footsteps of tunes that have emigrated and found their way home once more.

The result: all the raw beauty and energy you’d expect from a community on the edge of the known world, as Haas returns the cello to its historical role at the rhythmic heart of Scottish dance music. It’s a dream collaboration for Fraser, long regarded as one of Scotland’s premier fiddlers and a proud ambassador for Gaelic culture and traditions. He and Haas have been creating a buzz at festivals and concert halls across Europe and America, and for this tour they are performing for the first time with the inestimable Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. One of the foremost singers in the Irish language and co-founder of trad legends Altan, Mairéad will revisit the themes of ‘Edge’ and ‘Threshold’ explored on her first solo album  ‘Imeall’, together with Haas and Fraser.

Music Network tours provide a wonderful opportunity to see some of the world’s foremost musicians at affordable prices in venues around Ireland, and are presented in association with RTÉ lyric fm.  Music Network is funded by the Arts Council.

For more information, visit www.riverbank.ie.
To book tickets, visit box office or call 045 448327.

August 10th – 17th 2014
www.FleadhCheoil.ie

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is Ireland’s biggest traditional Irish music festival, a week long celebration of Irish music, song, dance and culture. From the first timer to the experienced session musician, you’ll find a cultural mix like no other at the Fleadh Cheoil.

Fleadh means party – and this Summer we invite you to visit Sligo, Ireland for this annual celebration of all things Irish. From music concerts to street performances, pageants to pub sessions, we’ve got a great line–up in place for the Fleadh, taking place between August 10th–17th, 2014.
(more…)

www.irishfest.com

The Willis Clan tops the line–up of talented bands returning by popular demand to the 2014 Milwaukee Irish Fest, taking place August 14th–17th along Milwaukee’s lakefront. Featured fan favorites performing this year include:

· The Willis Clan, a family of artists and musicians who merge their Irish roots with other music and dance genres to create a unique blend of the old and new.

· Carlos Núñez, a master showman and groundbreaking artist from the Galician region of Spain who remains undisputed as the tradition’s greatest piper.

· The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have fast become a global phenomenon, taking their signature “Bagrock” sound to the masses.

· Award–winning Irish banjo band, We Banjo 3 renowned for their incredible technical virtuosity and musical innovation.

· Gaelic Storm, who is celebrating their fifteenth anniversary of appearing at Milwaukee Irish Fest and is famed for their rousing, energetic shows.

· Glasgow–based Manran who brings a powerful blend of Gaelic and English traditional music and is the only band to use the Highland and Uilleann pipes in one line–up.

· Scythian, classically trained musicians who began as a group of street performers and went on to become one of the most energetic groups around.
(more…)

www.oaim.ie

At OAIM there are now 37 full Irish music courses for a wide array of instruments available online, with plenty more in the pipeline for the coming months. Access to ALL these courses, equalling 500+ quality Irish music tutorials is available for the small monthly price of E19.95. OAIM has lessons to suit almost all levels of skill and instruments of choice. If you haven’t logged onto OAIM for a while – now is a great time to log in and check out some of their new courses!

‘Standard Tuning Guitar Accompaniment’

with Cillian O’Dalaigh (The Outside Track)
(more…)