October 11th–19th, 2013
www.celtic-colours.com

Celtic Colours celebrates exceptional 2012 festival and kicked–off 2013 by showcasing Cape Breton talent in Dublin and Glasgow.

The 16th annual Celtic Colours International Festival was an outstanding success by any measurement and a record– smashing year in terms of ticket sales. A total of 20,276 tickets were sold to performances, an increase of almost 2,000 tickets over the previous high reached in 2011, marking the first time the Festival has sold more than 20,000 tickets. An additional 13,854 patrons from all over the world joined the celebration by tuning in to live concerts streamed via the internet. (more…)

August 10th–18th, 2013 www.bathfolkfestival.org

Bath Folk Festival is now in its 4th year with an expanded programme of nine days from August,10th–18th, 2013. Once again there will be a summer school featuring tuition in all forms of folk music offered to players at all levels. This year there will be more dancing classes being added to the programme. The festival runs a five day course in Traditional Irish music featuring tutors at the top of their field as well as workshops in English French and many European traditions as well as other styles from all over the world. Spread across the city of Bath we now have even more venues and an excellent value season ticket that gets you into events every day of the festival. For players there are lots of sessions as well. Confirmed line–up details will be announced very soon.
For more information visit www.bathfolkfestival.org

SCOIL ACLA, ACHILL ISLAND, CO. MAYO
July 27th – August 3rd, 2013 www.scoilacla.com

The annual Scoil Acla summer school takes place on Achill Island, Co. Mayo. Scoil Acla is Irelands 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 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 and much more. (more…)

July 20th–27th, 2013 www.joemooneysummerschool.com

Twenty five years a–growing and now in full bloom. The story of its growth is both interesting and amazing. It began in 1989 when a small seed was sown in a small town in Co. Leitrim by a small group of people who set out to promote the unique style of Leitrim  music and traditional culture.
From small beginnings, it has grown organically from year to year and it has become widely known and highly regarded on the traditional calendar. It now provides traditional music workshops, singing and set dancing for over 1000 students. The list of traditional tutors, over fifty at this stage, consists of the creme de la creme. (more…)

July 22nd – 26th, 2013 before March 22nd! www.tradweek.com

Meitheal 2013, the 10th edition will run from July 22nd–26th
in Villiers School, Limerick. A stellar cohort of tutors is being lined–up, many of them from overseas. Reaction to Meitheal 2012 was extremely positive and many students highlight the Finale Concert, and the appearance with Beoga at the Fleádh Cheoil na hÉireann as being unforgettable experiences.
The line–up of tutors so far: Alisha McMahon – harp, Brendan Mulholland – flute, Cillian King – concertina, Damien O’ Kane – banjo, John Carty – fiddle, Liz Doherty – fiddle, Mairearad Greene – piano accordeon, Martin Donohoe – button accordeon and Padraic Keane – uilleann pipe. (more…)

July 21st–28th, 2013, Rostrevor Co. Down, Northern Ireland
www.fiddlersgreenfestival.co.uk

2012 was an excellent year for this International Festival. Thousands of people attended the eight day event enjoying artists such as The Sands Family, The Mac Connell Brothers. John Sheahan, Eleanor Shanley, Seamus Begley, Steve Cooney, Frankie Lane, Mick Hanly, Paul Kelly, Zoe Conway, John McIntyre, Kevin Doherty, The Henry Girls and a host of other artists local and international.
The 2013 organising committee has been formed and the 27th Festival Celebrations well–advanced. Beginning as a one day event the festival now extends to eight days and nights of music, culture and entertainment. With nearly 200 events it caters for music lovers, families who wish to enjoy the safe child focused childrens programme (5 days) and those who come to soak up the wonderful scenery, friendliness and free outdoor entertainment.
(more…)

July 14th – 20th, 2013
www.sssschool.org

The 27th South Sligo Summer School of Traditional Music, Song & Dance takes place in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, from July 14th to 20th, 2013. Instruments taught include: fiddle, flute, tin whistle, harp, uilleann pipes, concertina, button accordion, piano accordion, banjo, traditional guitar and bodhrán. (more…)

June 24th – July 5th, 2013,
www.blas.ie

The Blas Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance returns to the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick for the 17th successive year this June 24th until July 5th.
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.
(more…)

May 9th – 12th, 2013
www.galwayearlymusic.com

Word Play: which came first – words or music? From 17th century Roman music to the performance of Early Irish poetry and a playful look at the dark side of fairytales, join us for a rich tapestry of medieval renaissance and baroque vocal and instrumental music. Our theme is a ‘chicken and egg’ question that will be considered from many angles. Telling stories, expressing emotions and embodying the sacred, in all these both vocal and instrumental music play a part.
(more…)

May 3rd – 5th, 2013,
www.cupoftaefestival.com

The Cup of Tae Festival in Ardara, Co. Donegal is recognised by many as the perfect festival to start off the summer festivals calender. This festival has simply got everything, open air musical sessions, top concerts, emphasis on encouraging young and up and coming talent, top class school of music, emphasis on free entertainment, loads of international musicians and plenty of crack. If you haven’t been to the Cup of Tae Festival you don’t know what you have missed. This year again the school of music will focus sessions and integrating in a session, this has proved to be an excellent experience for all as ultimately that’s what all budding musicians want to do. This year they acknowledge local family contributors to music and entertainment in Donegal, Packie and James Keeney. The Festival starts on Friday May 3rd with special concert honouring the special guests and the Forthill Céilí Band and finishes on Sunday May 5th with The John the Tae Concert. Come to the Cup of Tae Festival.

For more information call Steve at Tel: 087 2424590, email:glenardfish@eircom.net or www.cupoftaefestival.com