July 12th – 18th, 2015
www.sssschool.org

Plans are in place for the 29th South Sligo Summer School and once again the finest traditional Irish music and song will be ringing from the rafters during the second week of July in Tubbercurry in the heart of South Sligo.
With momentum building towards our 30th Year celebrations in July 2016, the organisers have a full and varied programme of events lined–up for this year, starting with the official opening on Sunday, July12th, followed by dancing to the Salamanca Céilí Band in St Brigid’s Hall. Featuring Stephen Doherty, Brona Graham, Gerard Butler, David Doocey and guest musicians, this will be the perfect lively start to the week’s set and sean nós dancing.
Following registration early on Monday morning, classes run all week up to and including Saturday, July 18th. This year the organisers are delighted to once again have a full team of renowned tutors of the highest calibre. Classes are kept small and are graded. For 2015 we welcome flute tutors Stephen Doherty and Louise Mulcahy. Both Stephen and Louise have given masterclasses at the school in the past few years and we are delighted to have them teach for the week this year.

Likewise, Michelle Mulcahy will be teaching concertina this year, and they welcome back former South Sligo Summer School pupils, sisters Liz and Yvonne Kane to teach fiddle at this year’s school. They are also very pleased to have Téada members Damien Stenson and Oisín Mac Diarmada teaching this year. Pipers Leonard Barry and Jarlath McTernan, harpist Holly Geraghty, traditional guitarists Seamie O’Dowd and Shane McGowan and singers Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta and Caoimhe Kearins are just some of the fine musicians and singers who will also be teaching at the school this year.
Each weekday afternoon an Interactive Talk takes place – five in all – and this year they feature a mini–series of presentations of three of the most important and influential musicians/composers/ music teachers and mentors in Irish traditional music: the late Dermot Grogan from Kilkelly who died aged 48 in 2006, Tubbercurry’s own Michael Gorman (1895 – 1970) and Martin Donoghue from Ballindine who was born in 1923 and was the grandfather of harp tutor Holly Geraghty. All three spent some time in London during their playing careers and Dermot also spent five years in the United States. Whistle tutor, Marion Egan will talk about Dermot’s life and huge musical influence and legacy on Monday afternoon and Oisín Mac Diarmada will focus on the music of Michael Gorman on Tuesday. The week’s listing of Talks will be completed on Thursday and Friday by Enda Scahill and Jack Talty who will facilitate lively discussions and share their expertise on injury prevention and recording of Irish traditional music respectively. Please see www.sssschool.org for full titles of all the talks – not to be missed.
Afternoon Masterclasses this year include fiddle workshops with John Carty and John McHugh, flute – Catherine McEvoy, button accordion – Daithí Gormley and banjo – John Carty and Enda Scahill. Full details of days and times on our website. Beginners and improvers meanwhile can look forward to Practice Sessions each afternoon with some of the summer school tutors.
These are but snippets of what’s on offer at the South Sligo Summer School for 2015. The organisers are very excited about their programme of events and in a year when Co Sligo is already buzzing with cultural and musical activity we look forward to seeing you in Tubbercurry from July 12th to 18th.

For further information www.sssschool.org
email: southsligosummerschool@eircom.net
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General Queries: Tel: 00–353–71–9120912