June 23rd – July 4th, 2014

www.blas.ie

The Blas Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance returns to the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick (UL) for the 18th successive year this June 23rd until July 4th.

Blas is now firmly established as one of Ireland’s most prestigious summer schools, drawing students from all over the world to spend two weeks gaining access to the finest Irish musicians, singers and dancers. This year Blas tutors will include, Martin Hayes, Colin Dunne, Steve Cooney, Dónal Lunny, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Noirín Ní Riain, Michelle Mulcahy, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Niall Keegan, John Carty Sandra Joyce and many more.
(more…)

www.thisiscavan.ie

February 12th – March 17th, 2014

There’s going to be good ceol agus craic in Cavan for the NYAH Traditional Irish music festival. The NYAH Festival (www.thisiscavan.ie) takes place in February & March throughout Co. Cavan. It is organized by Martin Donohoe, the wonderful rascal and box player who has done much to put Cavan back on the musical map.
(more…)

A series of six television programmes from the Derry Fleadh Cheoil presented by John Creedon and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, will be shown on RTE1 starting on Friday Jan 3rd at 7.30pm. The annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was held in Northern Ireland for the first time in Derry’s year as City of Culture.  The series will feature performances from musicians from Ireland, Britain, America, Norway and Russia.

The series will feature a host of musicians who attended the Fleadh including Liz Carroll, Tim Edey, Brendan Power, Seamus Begley, Damien Mullane, Zoe Conway, Liz Doherty, Bobby Gardiner, Dave Sheridan, Paddy Callaghan, Rona Wilkie and Marcas Ó Murchú.

Among the groups featured are Flook, Reel It In, Síoda, Socks in the Frying Pan, The Moylurg Ceili Band, as well as The Friel Sisters, The Maguire Family, and The Mooney Family from Donegal.

The programmes will also include a visit to Scoil Éigse, the Scoil Éigse Tutors Concert and competitions including the Senior Céilí Band Competition.

www.facebook.com/feisforphilippines

Dónal Clancy, Donnchadh Gough, members of Caladh Nua and sean-nós singer Nell Ní Chróinín will take to the stage in St Mary’s Church of Ireland this Saturday, 21 December, in a showcase of Irish traditional music.

The cream of Ireland’s trad talent will perform in a special fund-raising concert for the people of the Philippines impacted by Typhoon Haiyan. Tickets for Feis for Philippines are priced at €15 and are on sale from Jitterbeans and David Walsh School Books in Dungarvan, online from Eventbrite, and on the door.
(more…)

www.frankiekennedy.com

The 20th and final Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy will be launched on Rónán Beo@3 on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta live from Tigh Hiúdaí Beag in Gaoth Dobhair on 4 December at 3 pm.

The school was established in 1994 to celebrate and honour the life of Frankie Kennedy, a gifted flute player from Belfast and one of the founders of Altan, who passed away in 1994.

The launch will include live music from Altan’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and Caitlín Nic Gabhann, among others, and people are welcome to attend.

This year, the school will run from 27th December to 1 January, and a stellar line up of musicians will ensure that it will be a very special 20th and final school.
(more…)

Vicar Street Sunday 19th of January 2014

Following the success of their sold-out show in Christ Church Cathedral, the award winning members of Supergroup A Stór Mo Chroí are coming together again for a special night in Dublin’s Vicar Street.

Combined, Karan Casey, Éilís Kennedy, Pauline Scanlon, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, John Spillane, Donogh Hennessy, Dónal O’Connor and John McSherry have been members of the most influential folk and traditional groups of the past fifteen years, including Solas, Lúnasa, Tamalin, At First Light, Nomos, Coolfin, Béal Tuinne and The Sharon Shannon Band.
(more…)

www.radissonblu.ie/hotel-athlone

The legendary singer-songwriter Christy Moore, one of Ireland’s greatest musical icons of the current day is coming to the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone for a special performance for one night only Saturday 7th December, having just launched a brand new album titled “Where I Come From”.
(more…)

A Complete Guide to Playing the Irish Flute is the most comprehensive tutor yet for keyed and unkeyed ‘Irish’ wooden flutes. Originally published in 1986 under the title Timber, Fintan Vallely’s tutor was the first-ever guide to learning the wooden flute and has become the source for countless students of the instrument in Irish music.
(more…)

www.thewillisclan.com

The Willis Clan has enjoyed the journey of being re–introduced to their Irish musical heritage through Riverdance, learning the dance, winning the fleadh, writing their own tunes and songs, recording an album and touring and playing at Irish festivals. But recently The Clan’s music has taken a new turn while still remaining true to its roots. Having moved from a strong Irish community in Chicago to Nashville, TN 12 years ago has allowed the band to be introduced to many new styles of music.
(more…)

www.oaim.ie

Calling all Tin Whistle enthusiasts – we now have over 70 whistle tutorials online. This equals 20 hours worth of top quality whistle tunes, tips and techniques! Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, OAIM has a course for you:
(more…)