www.scoilcheoil.com

It’s almost Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh time, and West Kerry is a bracing itself for the unique madness of this five day event.

From February 15th to 19th, visitors to the village of Ballyferriter can expect to be met by the strains of fiddles, tin-whistles, accordions, harps, bodhráns, bag pipes, mouth organs, concertinas, flutes and uileann pipes, as a host of traditional musicians and music lovers converge on this musical hotspot.
This year’s Scoil Cheoil offers an astonishing choice of 23 classes, with additional classes in the banjo and guitar also available subject to demand. There’ll also be sean-nós singing workshops, sean-nós dance workshops, and masterclasses in sean-nós singing with Máire Ní Chéilleachair, and Scottish tunes with Scottish musician Alan Henderson.
(more…)

Evening of entertainment to help preserve Irish music
www.irishfest.com

Milwaukee Irish Fest presents its annual Green Tie Event, an evening of entertainment benefitting Milwaukee-based Ward Irish Music Archives – home to the largest public collection of Irish and Irish American music in America – on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Entering its 13th year, the annual event moves to a new location this year and will be held at the Wisconsin Country Club, located at 6200 West Good Hope Road in Milwaukee, Wis.

“All are invited to join us for an entertaining evening in support of Irish music and lore,” said Barry Stapleton, director of the Archives. “People may not realize we have this internationally-recognized treasure right here in Milwaukee. Through the preservation of these archives, we will help future generations worldwide to better understand Irish culture and the important impact of its musical tradition and spirit.”
(more…)

www.celticwoman.com

#1 DEBUT ON BILLBOARD’S WORLD MUSIC CHART   #1 DEBUT ON BILLBOARD’S TOP INTERNET ALBUM CHART

#13 DEBUT ON BILLBOARD’S TOP 200 CHART  #2 DEBUT ON BILLBOARD’S TOP DVD MUSIC VIDEO CHART

US TOUR KICKS OFF FEBRUARY 3rd IN NASHVILLE, TN

The devoted fans of the internationally acclaimed vocal phenomenon, Celtic Woman, have once again come out to support the group’s newest project, BELIEVE, leading to their sixth consecutive #1 debut on Billboard’s World Music Chart, and a #1 debut on the Top Internet Album Chart. BELIEVE, which consists of an enchanting studio album and companion live concert DVD, also debuted at #13 on the Top 200 Chart and #2 on the Top DVD Music Video Chart (following Adele).

Celtic Woman is the all-female singing sensation featuring vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe, Lisa Kelly and Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt, performing classic Irish songs (“The Water Is Wide,” “Green Grow the Rushes,” “A Woman’s Heart,” “The Parting Glass”), timeless pop anthems (“Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Sailing”), and inspirational songs (“You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Ave Maria”) with their signature Celtic Woman twist, under the distinct musical direction of Emmy-nominated music producer, David Downes. The live concert DVD was filmed for the first time in America during two sold-out nights at The Fox Theatre (Atlanta, GA) in Sept 2011.
(more…)

www.tg4.ie/gradam

Long-time London resident Brian Rooney heads the list of recipients of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2012 (Traditional Music Awards) announced at a media reception in Carrick-on-Shannon this evening. Born and reared near Kiltyclogher in north-Leitrim, Brian’s sweet fiddle playing soon earned him a place at the very centre of London’s vibrant traditional music scene in the 1970s and his recordings then and since have copperfastened his status.

This year’s Gradam recipients range over a wide spectrum of talents. Those honoured in the various categories include a legendary Donegal fiddler who also spent most of his life in London, a US-based world-renowned composer and scholar originally from Offaly, an Armagh couple whose life has been spend teaching traditional music in that city and county and two young Gaeltacht musicians from Ring and Muskerry who, while still in their early twenties, have already achieved much in their chosen musical disciplines. The full list of TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2012 recipients is:

• Gradam Ceoil TG4 – Brian Rooney
• Ceoltóir Óg TG4 (Young Musician) – Caoimhín Ó Fearghail
• Gradam Saoil TG4 (Hall of Fame) – Danny Meehan
• Cumadóir TG4 (Composer) – Paddy O’Brien
• Amhránaí TG4 (Singer) – Nell Ní Chróinín
• Gradam Aitheantais TG4 (Special Contribution) – Eithne and Brian Vallely

(Recipient biographies available on www.tg4.ie/gradamhttp://www.tg4.ie/gradam).
(more…)

March 23rd – 26th, 2012
www.inishowensinging.ie

The 23rd Inishowen International Folk Song & Ballad Seminar My parents reared me tenderly takes place March 23rd – 26th, 2012 in Ballyliffin/Clonmany, Co. Donegal.

This year all the guests are linked by the theme of family, grandsons, brothers & sisters, parents & children, husbands & wives. Gathered from Ireland, Scotland, England & the USA are Charlie & Denis McGonigle, Martin Carthy, Micil & Micheál Quinn, Geordie Murison, Eithne & Micheál Ó Catháin, The Diamond Family, Cathal O’Neill, Stuart Carolan, Jeff Warner, Jim Taylor, John Moulden & Cloontagh National School. Guests will perform in concert and join with the wider circle of singers who travel to sing at the various sessions throughout the weekend.
(more…)

March 29th – April 1st, 2012
www.comhaltas.ie/events

Since 2007 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have organised a weekend of traditional music workshops, sessions and concerts in honour of Patrick Byrne, the 19th century harper who was the first Irish traditional musician ever photographed. Called the Féile Patrick Byrne this community festival is held on the weekend before Easter (March 29th – April 1st) in and around Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan.
(more…)

April 13th – 15th,  2012
www.clifdentradfest.com

The 3rd Annual “Clifden Traditional Music Festival” will take place on the weekend of the April 13th–15th, 2012. Following on from 2010 & 2011, 2012 promises to be a great weekend of the very best of Irish Music, song and dance! Top class visiting musicians from all over the country have been invited with a host of All Ireland Champions among them. Musicians will include: Maura Walsh, James Duggan, Graham Guerin, Gearoid Keating, Padraic Kerins, Josie & Una Canavan, Michael Curran, Chris Maguire, Daithí Gormley and a host more who will join local and other visiting musicians.
(more…)

May 4th – 7th, 2012
www.cupoftaefestival.com

The Cup of Tae Festival entered its eleventh year this year and over the years it has well and truely proved itself as one of Ireland’s best festivals. A prominent musician recently was quoted as saying “The Cup of Tae Festival is a hidden gem of a festival that is our little secret where the best musicians in the land and from Europe and USA come and join together and enjoy music in every nuke and cranny in an atmosphere of relaxation and fun. The local hosteries also make sure every musician is looked after and we don’t want everyone to know too much about The Cup of Tae Festival”.
(more…)

Social Harmony: When Tradition and High Art Meet
May 17th – 20th, 2012
www.galwayearlymusic.com

This year’s festival looks at what happens when popular culture and high art meet and mingle: when tunes played at a peasant’s wedding find their way into the music played at a castle feast, when hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes become the fashion at court and when baroque harp becomes the instrument of the people.
(more…)

July 15th – 21st, 2012
www.catskillsirishartsweek.org

The 18th Annual Catskills Irish Arts Week takes place in upstate New York from July 15th – 21st, 2012 in the picturesque hamlet of East Durham, a destination for the Irish for many decades.
(more…)