www.celtic-colours.com

Hot on the heels of another very successful event in October, the Celtic Colours International Festival has released a compilation CD of music live from the 2013 festival. Celtic Colours Live 2013 was recorded at 10 different concerts throughout the festival and presents 15 performances captured during those concerts.

This live album represents a “first” for Celtic Colours, and something the festival has wanted to do for a long time. The compilation CD’s that have been available each year have been very popular. They consisted of existing tracks of artists who were appearing that year. “The live album is a very different product. It takes the audience directly to the concert to experience it as they remember it,” said Executive Director Joella Foulds. “Technology has advanced to the point where we can affordably do this for the first time and the results are very exciting!”
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www.tonestickets.com and www.citywesthotel.com

Arguably the World’s most iconic and popular ballad group, The Wolfe Tones, will celebrate an unbelievable 50th Anniversary at Wolfe Tones Fest, a 3 day extravaganza over Easter weekend 2014, at the beautiful Citywest Hotel complex in Co. Dublin. Featuring 3 unique shows, including The Wolfe Tones 50th Anniversary Gala Concert with full orchestra, The Wolfe Tones ‘Special Request’ Concert celebrating their legendary hits from an amazing 50 year career, and The Wolfe Tones 1916 Remembered, all 3 shows on April 19th – 21st respectively will take the groups legions of fans on a unique and never to be forgotten journey through The Wolfe Tones unrivalled career.
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The Online Academy of Irish Music

www.oaim.ie

The aim of this course is to learn how to accompany Irish music on the guitar using standard tuning accompaniment. Tutor Cillian O’Dalaigh examines the chords, chord structures and strumming patterns of some of the more typical tune types and keys in the Irish tradition; the Jig, Reel, SlipJig and Hornpipe focusing on a variety of different keys and modes. He picks a selection of well– known tunes to demonstrate the taught skills and techniques including Lucy Campbells, The Rose in the Heather, Sally Gardens, The Earl’s Chair and The Morning Dew. Some of the skills and techniques he gives focus to include the use of open chords, muting of strings for percussive effect, single string accompaniment and the use of ‘jazzy’ chords in the accompaniment of traditional music. This course is an invaluable resource for the guitarist who is new to traditional music and would like to learn how to accompany Irish music or for accompanists who already have experience playing Irish music but would like to improve their skills and play in a more dynamic way. Online Lessons also available for flute, fiddle, whistle, accordion, harp, mandolin, bouzouki, song, uilleann pipes, banjo, bodhrán, piano and concertina.

Join OAIM’s global community of Irish musicians, log on to www.oaim.ie and sign up today!

Kerry musician, Cormac Begley was announced as the winner of the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in the final broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta from the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork on Friday 7th February. The judges were renowned musicians Noel Hill, Mick Mulcahy and Charlie Harris.
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Trad Chef, Martin Donohoe, Cavan is cooking up a big Irish Summer session. Catch them on Thursday 3rd July in Strokestown Co Roscommon at the Strokestown Park House.

It’s a return to the intimate surroundings of the Victorian gallery kitchen of Strokestown Park House for Trad Chef Martin Donohoe, Cavan cooking up a big Irish Summer session joined by singer, Aileen O’Connor, Roscommon, Órlaith McAuliffe, Flute/Whistle, London, Noel Sweeney, Flute & Saxophone, Eamon Maguire, Cornafean storyteller, Gerry Gorman, Box with John Sullivan, Fiddle and champion Harpist, Kavan Donohoe.
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September 26th – 28th, 2014
www.johnnydohertyfestival.com or www.ardara.ie

Celebrating its 6th anniversary, this festival is going from strength– to–strength, attracting visitors from all over the world.
Already confirmed for the weekend are the ever popular Irish/ American group Cherish The Ladies who make a welcome return to the festival. Also appearing will be the very talented Friel sisters from Glasgow and many more Artists to be confirmed. (more…)

August 6th – 11th, 2014

www.feaklefestival.ie

Following on from the hugely successful Feakle International Festival in 2013, this year’s event looks likely to be as exciting as ever.

The 27th Annual event takes place from Wednesday, August 6th to Monday, August 11th. Broadly speaking this year’s event will follow a similar pattern to last year, with 6 days of action packed entertainment. Renowned the world over for the top acts it brings to the town the committee are busy at present finalising this year’s line–up. There will be numerous concerts, Céilís, Workshops, Recitals, sessions and walks, children’s entertainment etc.

Special guests this year include: ICE (Irish Concertina Ensemble) with Tim Collins, Padraig Rynne, Edel Fox, Caitlín Ní Gabhan and Michéal O Raghallaigh. Also performing will be Lumiere and Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill plus many more to be confirmed.

For further information visit www.feaklefestival.ie or email: info@feaklefestival.ie

July 28th – August 4th, 2014

www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie

The dates for the 36th O’Carolan Harp and Traditional Music Festival in Keadue, Co. Roscommon have been announced.

The Festival which is held under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend from July 28th–August 4th.
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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
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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.
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