www.fleadhcheoil.ie

A visit by a group representing Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to New York was hailed as “hugely beneficial” in terms of putting Sligo and this Summer’s upcoming Fleadh in the shop window for the Irish communities in the United States.

Bartley Gavin, Chair of Fleadh Cheoil 2015, described the aims of the 4 day trip last week as “to raise awareness of Fleadh 2015 among the sizable Irish communities in New York, to strengthen business and tourism links with the Sligo communities there, and to celebrate several screenings of the Fleadh film, The Sligo Masters, which took place at locations throughout the city over a number of days.”
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www.gael-linn.ie

‘GLÓR MHAIGH EO” CHAMPIONS

GAEL LINN TROPHY AND €2,500 AWARD

“Glór Mhaigh Eo”  from Davitt College, Castlebar, Co Mayo  are Siansa Gael Linn Champions for 2015

A packed National Concert Hall audience roared their approval when this year’s Siansa Gael Linn winners took to the stage to be presented with their Gael Linn Trophy and cheque for €2,500. Dublin band, “Na Rógairí”  from Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan took second place award and a cheque for €1,250 while “Faoiseamh”  from Corofin, Co Clare came third, receiving €750.

Earlier, eight groups vied for the coveted annual award on the same stage. The unique Siansa formula of competition and musical talent had kept a 1,000 audience enthralled while many more listened to the live broadcast on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta presented by Áine Hensey.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” said a delighted Katie Sweeney, group mentor. “I knew if it was down to music, a strong sean-nós element and good Irish speakers we would be in with a chance. I would like to thank Davitt College for the great help and support they gave the band which got us to this stage.

“I would also like to thank Siansa. There is no competition like it. It sets out a challenge to musicians to be innovative and creative with traditional music, something which no other competition demands. Siansa also encourages team work which helps develop the group and its music.”
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www.tf.dk

More exciting additions to the Tønder Festival poster: an Irish supergroup, top-class American bluegrass veterans, Scottish talents and a famous Scandinavian female singer.

Danish music festivals are very much in the news, and there has never been a wider variety on offer. In the midst of the diverse festival landscape – more precisely in the south Jutland border country, with its vast skies and open spaces – Tønder Festival can announce a series of new names that underline the unique nature of the music programme at this major Danish folk roots festival.
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Buskers are invited to perform on the streets of Limerick to be in with a chance of winning recording time worth €500 in Red Door Productions, a voucher worth €750 from Steamboat Music and a support slot at Dolans, Limerick’s premier live music venue.

The competition takes place on Sunday May 3rd, Limerick city centre, from 6.30pm.

For more information email juley@grooveyard.ie, application forms can be found on http://www.limerick.ie/riverfest/downloads

www.clancybrothersfestival.org

The Clancy Brothers Song Competition 2015 is now open for entries. With free entry, and a prize fund in excess of €1,500, the competition this is an open competition for new, original songs.

Following a successful first year, competition organisers are looking forward to hearing a wide range of music from across Ireland.

The competition is open to all musical genres and styles, and to all ages and nationalities. As long as it is a song, it is eligible for entry.

‘Last year we had everything from folk to heavy metal’, said Pete MacGowan, ‘and entries came from the all over Ireland and abroad’.
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CRAOBHCHOMÓRTAS/ GRAND FINALE CONCERT
AN CEOLÁRAS NÁISIÚNTA/NATIONAL CONCERT HALL
DÉ DOMHNAIGH/SUNDAY, 26 APRIL 2015
7.30P.M.

Ceolchoirm de scoth-theaglamaí ceoil agus amhránaíochta ón ocht ngrúpa thraidisiúnta a roghnaíodh le bheith san iomaíocht I gcraobhchomórtas 2015 don duaischiste €4,500.
Eight groups who have qualified for the 2015 final perform their own selection of traditional Irish music and song and compete for a prize-fund of €4,500, in what promises to be a fantastic concert !

LÁITHREOIR- ÁINE HENSEY, RTÉ RAIDIÓ NA GAELTACHTA
Áirithint/Booking: 01 4170000 www.nch.ie
Ticéid: €12 ( €6 daltaí/students )

The thirteen–episode series premieres May 5th at 10/9c

The Willis family brings their musical talents to TLC in a thirteen–episode series following their life at home and on the road. The Willis Family (wt), set to premiere May 5th at 10/9c, will follow Brenda and Toby Willis as they share the challenge

of maintaining their large, fourteen–member family while keeping up with the workload required to manage their touring band.

The family, hailing from just outside of Nashville, was thrust into the limelight after making it to the final rounds of America’s Got Talent, where everyone fell in love with their music and original sound; the YouTube video from their national performance alone has garnered more than 6 million views. Throughout the series, viewers will get an inside look into their lives as they travel the country sharing their talents and balancing a life at home.
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The Online Academy of Irish Music

www.oaim.ie

OAIM proudly presents a brand new beginner’s fiddle course taught by Beoga Fiddler, Niamh Dunne. The first six lessons of this course are absolutely free, so log in and get learning!. These videos are all in HD and have been enhanced with animated graphic diagrams to enhance your on–line learning experience.
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We’re Back!!! Sign up and pre–pay for our summer school now to save 25%!!

August 3rd – 10th, 2015

www.GannonsMusicShop.com

Come to Spiddal and take part in the 2nd annual summer school from August 3rd to August 10th, “Seachtain Cheoil Chois Farraige”, A Week of Music by the Sea. With master classes in all traditional instruments as well as Sean Nós Dancing, Sean Nós Singing and the Irish Language, taught by Ireland’s premier artists. The week will also include various lectures, pub sessions, concerts and afternoon sessions for all students, there really is something for everyone.
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May 8th – 10th, 2015 www.banjo.ie

The Clarinbridge Banjo Gathering celebrates its third year with a great programme of traditional Irish music, Bluegrass, Americana, sessions, exhibitions and workshops. The weekend kicks–off Friday evening at Jordan’s with well– known musicians Charlie Harris and Des Mulkere in an evening of lively music, song and storytelling. The organisers are delighted to have Mick Moloney as their main guest artist over the weekend. Presently associated with the Music Dept. of New York University, Mick combines the careers of professional musician, folklorist, musicologist, teacher and arts presenter and advocate (and many will remember him from his early days with the Johnstons).

On Saturday evening, in ‘If it wasn’t for the Irish and the Jews’, Mick traces the amazing story of the Jewish and Irish communities in America through their musical links during the vaudeville and early Tin Pan Alley era. Mick will be accompanied by Brenda Castles, well–known concertina player and teacher from Dublin. Saturday also includes 4 and 5 string banjo workshops, an exhibition of vintage banjos, a tour of Clareen Banjos workshop and a performance entitled Five Decades of the Banjo featuring exponents from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 00’s. You can expect impromptu session in the pubs and there will be a Banjo Café Trail.
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