Irish World Academy of Music and Dance

Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance June 22nd – July 3rd, 2015. www.blas.ie

The Blas Summer School is delighted to announce the continuation of the Paul Brady Blas Bursary for 2015. The recipients of the scholarships benefit from master classes and tuition from Ireland’s most distinguished traditional artists. The value of each bursary covers a portion of tuition only for the 2 weeks of the programme.

The Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance returns to the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick for the 19th successive year this June 22nd – July 3rd, 2015. The summer school will be launched on Monday June 22nd where students attending the course at the University’s Irish World Academy will benefit from the wisdom and tutelage of eminent figures of the Traditional World such as Dónal Lunny, Steve Cooney, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, John Carty, Colin Dunne, Louise Mulcahy, Michelle Mulcahy, Ryan Molloy, Kieran Munnelly, Siobhan Peoples, Niall Keegan, Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain, Mats Melin, Aileen Dillane, Sandra Joyce and Jim Higgins with more being added all the time.
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May 7th – 10th, 2015

The Small Festival with the Big Reputation!

Baltimore, West Cork, Ireland

www.fiddlefair.com

Arguably one of Ireland’s best small music festivals, The Baltimore Fiddle Fair takes place from May 7th to 10th. From humble beginnings in 1992 this remarkable festival has grown a little in size and a lot in stature and truly does get better with age. Its reputation is built on its consistent ability to present world–class national and international acts in intimate settings in the beautiful seaside village of Baltimore in West Cork and once again they present a line–up that is simply amazing.
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May 15th – 17th, 2015 www.skerriestraditionalmusic.com

This year the 14th Skerries Traditional Music Weekend will take place from May 15th – 17th in the picturesque seaside town of Skerries situated in the North Fingal region of County Dublin.

In 2015 Skerries will play host to a weekend packed with music, song and dance where leading artists will travel to Skerries and join with locals and visitors in a celebration of our unique Irish heritage. A great selection of top class individual players will be participating throughout the weekend on many levels including formal concerts, tutoring and pub sessions. Artists such as Mary Bergin, Con ‘Fada’ Ó Drisceoil, Mick Conneely, Siobhan Peoples, Mick O’Brien, Sean Ryan, Michelle Mulcahy, Joe Skelton, Mairéad Casey, Micheál Ó Raghallaigh, to mention but a few!
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June 15th – 21st, 2015 www.galwaysessions.com

This year the Galway Sessions Festival presents a packed programme of events including concerts, recitals, street entertainment, storytelling, a singers club and an extensive pub–session trail at various venues throughout the historic medieval centre of Galway City.

This years festival is sub–titled Blas Connamara and will focus on the rich musical,singing and dance heritage of the region and off–shore islands lying west of Galway City. The programme will commence each day with an open–air sean–nos dancing exhibition in Galway’s Latin Quarter followed by a recital at the historic King’s Head pub at 3pm. Early evening sessions will take place daily between 5–8pm at Tigh Coili’s and Taffee’s Bar and nightly concerts will take place at the Roisin Dubh, Monroe’s Tavern and the Crane Bar in Galway’s West End. Thoses who will perform at the various concerts and recitals throughout the week include household family names of the tradition including the MacDonnchaadhas, Devanneys, O’Cheannabhain, Conneeleys,Hernons, Connollys and O’ Hallorans.
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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.
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July 13th – 17th, 2015 www.ceolnacoille.ie

A growing summer school with a friendly welcome is what awaits when the fourth annual Ceol na Coille week takes place in Letterkenny from Monday July 13th to Friday July 17th.

Paul Harrigan, who runs Ceol na Coille, has been surprised by the numbers turning up in the first three years. There were 17 classes in 2014. It’s expected more will have to be added this summer.

The brand–new facilities at Coláiste Ailigh, the Irish–speaking secondary school in Letterkenny, mean that Ceol na Coille has the perfect base. There will also be a full programme of concerts, recitals and sessions.
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July 18th – 25th, 2015 www.joemooneysummerschool.com

The Joe Mooney Summer School 2015 will run from July 18th to July 25th in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim. The Summer School is in its 27th year and is well–established on the traditional calendar of events.

Leitrim is synonymous with traditional music and its connections with famous great musicians of the past such as flute player John Mc Kenna, fiddle player James Morrison etc. have given it historical credentials of which Leitrim is so proud.
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July 20th – 24th, 2015 www.westportscoilcheoil.com

Westport Scoil Cheoil had its inaugural year in 2014. It was a hugely successful traditional Irish music summer school because it fulfilled our motto: Best teachers, Best Location; Best Price.  www.westportscoilcheoil.com It runs from July 20th to 24th, 2015.

Best Teachers: We have been extremely fortunate to have secured the very best Irish traditional musicians/tutors in the world; Westport Scoil Cheoil is so proud to have hosted such prestigious names as; Tara Breen, Liz Kane, Christopher Maguire, Louise Mulcahy, Emer Mayock, Lisa Canny, Michelle Mulcahy, Des Cafferkey, David Doocey, Fergal Ó Murchú, Dr Katie Sweeney and Liam Scanlon to name but a few. As well as all the above names returning this year we are absolutely thrilled to add the inimitable Zoe Conway and her guitarist husband John McIntyre to the line–up! Unbeatable!
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Achill Island, County Mayo

July 25th – August 1st 2015 www.scoilacla.com

Now in its 30th year – 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 we have recitals, poetry readings, creative writing readings, indoor and outdoor concerts, sessions, walks, talks, exhibitions and much more.
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August 5th – 10th, 2015 www.feaklefestival.ie

The 28th Annual Feakle Traditional Music Festival takes place this year from August 5th–10th. Now firmly established as one of the best Music Festivals of its kind in Ireland and indeed further afield, this year’s package will offer more of the finest entertainment as is expected and looked forward to by the thousands of punters who travel to this haven of Irish culture from all over the world.
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