July 11th – 17th, 2010
www.ssss.org

The 24th South Sligo Summer School of traditional music, song and dance will take place in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo from Sunday 11th to Saturday, 17th July 2010.

Situated at the foot of the Ox Mountains in the heart of South Sligo in an area steeped in traditional music going back generations, Tubbercurry is the perfect location for this annual summer school, first established in 1987 and now in its 24th year, where participants have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the music, song and dance of South Sligo and beyond over six days of tuition, concerts and recitals, céilís, lectures and workshops, all featuring tutors, lecturers, musicians and céilí bands of the highest calibre.  Think of tune titles such as ‘The Killavil Jig’, ‘The Mountain Road’, ‘The Moving Bogs of Powelsboro’ or ‘The Chaffpool Post’, all places in and around Tubbercurry or again of names like Martin Wynne, Fred Finn, Andy McGann and Jim Donoghue, just a few of the great musicians who were native to the area, all of whom left a legacy of tunes, some their own compositions, in their wake.  This is just the tip of the iceberg of what is a deep, rich tradition and one which all those involved in the South Sligo Summer School set out to celebrate, breathe new life into and help preserve each year.

Over the years many former students of the summer school have gone on to teach at the school and a number of them have forged a successful playing career either individually or in groups.  Evidence of the current healthy state of traditional music in South Sligo and the general North Connaught region was on show at the highest level at the All Ireland Fleadh Ceoil in Tullamore last August twelve months where the two Sligo based céilí bands took first and second place in the Senior competition and again in 2009 when a Sligo band took the top honours, with Tubbercurry born musician, Philip Duffy at the helm.  The music is in safe hands for the next few generations with many under-age bands, groups and individual musicians from County Sligo also excelling in competitions such as Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann and  Siansa Gael Linn, showing great musicianship with an ear for the past and an eye to the future evident in their playing. This level of interest and success is due in no small way to the dedication of several music teachers and local musicians who give of their time and talent tirelessly throughout the winter months and who also teach the pupils in local schools in the whole South Sligo area during the school year.  The South Sligo Summer School then steps in each July with a week long program of intensive tuition and immersion in the tradition where the young and not so young, locals and visitors alike, all mingle and share songs, tunes and dances, often into the early hours of the morning.

This year’s program is currently being put together and in the coming months further details will be made available.  Meanwhile, for further information ring Marie Flannery on 00-353-71-9182151, Rita Flannery on 00-353-71-9120912 or
Email:southsligosummerschool@eircom.net

For enquiries about accommodation in Tubbercurry, please ring Roger McCarrick
on 00-353-71-9185050.