Irish Trad Music Blog

English: Listowel Bridge, Co Kerry. Bridge of the River Feale in Listowel, Co. Kerry (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Debut Album set for release by the All–Ireland Champions Shannon Vale Céilí Band www.shannonvaleceiliband.com Following on from their St. Patrick’s Day performance at Áras an Uachtaráin, Kerry’s award winning Shannon Vale Céilí Band are preparing to launch their debut album in Listowel, Co. Kerry on June 7th. Shannon’s Lovely Vale takes it’s title from a newly composed tune by renowned musician and composer, Maurice Lennon, of Stockton’s Wing fame. Having composed this piece in honour of the band, Lennon also features as guest artist on the recording. The album includes music and song of North Kerry, much of which previously has been unrecorded. The band comprises an impressive line–up of musicians featuring Sheila Garry and Colm Kissane (Fiddles), Marianne Browne (Flute/ Whistles), Joe O’Sullivan (Flute/Vocals), Mike Collins (Banjo/Mandolin/Flute), John ...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas & Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Sunday, May 18th, 8pm €15/€12 “The musical chemistry between Scottish fiddle legend Alasdair Fraser and young cello ace Natalie Haas is a rare, felicitous thing.” - Boston Herald “Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s beautiful airs had us begging for more. Every corner seemed to echo with her voice long after the music had stopped.” - Dublin Evening Press Music Network Presents The Iona Connection: Nasc Oileán Í, Featuring Alasdair Fraser (fiddle), Natalie Haas (cello) and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (fiddle/voice) on Sunday 18 May 2014 at Riverbank Arts Centre, Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare Music Network is delighted to present Scotland’s Alasdair Fraser on fiddle, Californian cellist Natalie Haas and Donegal singer and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh in an exploration of connections between traditional Scots, Irish and American Old Time music. Join them on Sunday 18 May at Riverbank Arts ...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Fleadh Nua, Ennis: This year, 2014, marks the 40th anniversary of the first Fleadh Nua in Ennis and since 1974 it has developed from a 3 day event to a festival spanning 8 days, with more than 120 separate events, where there is a welcome for everyone. There are many Irish traditional festivals organised throughout the summer months but there are few people who will dispute that Fleadh Nua which started in Dublin in 1970, is the forerunner of them all. The concept of bringing together concerts, céilithe, music, song and dancing workshops, street entertainment, and much more was innovative in its time. However, it's still a winning formula today as evidenced by the thousands of visitors who flock to the festival every May for a week of unsurpassed traditional entertainment. Contact 00353 65 6824276 & ceoltrad@eircom.net Related articles Moate whistler wins Fleadh Competition for young Irish musicians: An Ré Nua - The New Era Comhaltas: Comh...

Chicago Police Chief Francis O'Neill 1901–1905 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The Irish Music School of Chicago proudly announces its fourth annual Francis O'Neill Irish Arts Week Kids Day Camp from July 21-26, 2014. The week provides a unique learning opportunity by bringing master traditional Irish musicians to Chicago to teach the many facets of traditional Irish arts to children ages 6-14. The Kids Day Camp teaches a wide range of subjects including traditional Irish music, singing, dancing, language and Celtic arts and crafts to children with no experience necessary. The camp takes place at Chief O'Neill's at 3471 N. Elston Ave. in Chicago Monday, July 21 through Friday, July 25, 9am-3pm with a finale recital for friends and family on Saturday, July 26. Buffet lunch including many traditional Irish dishes is provided Monday-Friday for the campers and is included in the cost of camp ($300 early registration through May 15, $350 late registration begin...

The home of the Irish Traditional Music Archive - Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann at 73 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The Irish Traditional Music Archive is delighted to have been chosen by the International Association of Music Libraries (UK & Ireland) as one of the 2014 winners of its prestigious Excellence Award for Music Libraries, recently presented at a ceremony in Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. The Award celebrates institutional and individual excellence, and acknowledges ‘activity in music libraries which demonstrates sustained good work and good practice with the potential to be adopted and adapted by others’. It is presented every two years. The nominations for this year’s awards were judged by a panel of experts from both the music and library worlds, chaired by Professor Jan Smaczny of Queen’s University, Belfast. ITMA is the only Irish institutional award winner of the year, and it was joined on the day by British librari...

Approaching Louisburgh from Leenane (Photo credit: Diego Sideburns ) THE twentieth annual Féile Chois Cuain takes place over this May Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday May 2 to Monday, May 5, and will once again host many of the most notable traditional artists from home and abroad. From its inception in 1995, Féile Chois Cuain, has put its emphasis on quality and the festival continues to attract the cream of traditional artists, gaining it an enviable reputation at home and abroad. The committee has again invited outstanding traditional arts exponents to teach classes and play in concerts and sessions over the May Bank Holiday weekend, as has been the case since the first one in 1995.  Anyone with even a passing interest in traditional arts will recognise the artists listed in the programme. The list abounds with All-Ireland and Oireachtas champions and fourteen teachers will be involved in passing on their expertise in music (seven instruments), song ...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) 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 mu...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) A special fundraising event to support Mairead Hussey will be staged at the Union Inn ion Levenshulme on Tuesday 13 May The Levenshulme Pub Company, the Keegan Academy of Irish Dance, the Manchester Mayo Tourism and Business group and the Full Irish Radio have all joined forces to stage a special fund raising event to support Manchester’s New Rose of Tralee winner – Mairead Hussey. The group will be staging a mammoth Irish Music and Dancing session in the Union Inn on Stockport Road in Levenshulme. The Levenshulme Pub Company are donating all the bar takings from the event to help support Mairead and her sponsors The Keegan Academy of Irish Dance who are going over for trip the Regional Final. Mairead commented “I’m really excited about the Rose of Tralee Regional Final in Ireland and the tremendous amount of support that I have been getting from everyone in Manchester. I’m hoping that all my friends and family will come do...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia )  Saturday 26 April @ London Irish Centre, London, GB We're delighted to welcome John Spillane back to The London Irish Centre. JOHN SPILLANE is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet, dreamer - a canvass filled with color and brilliance. His music transports the listener; his live performance captivates the audience. In a world filled with strife and upheaval, a time-out with John Spillane is enough to ease the load a bit on anyone lucky enough to bask in his light. The man and his music are pure magic. What makes John special is that he is an artist who knows how to deliver all that he has to offer to anyone of any age, male or female, no matter the musical preference. Place him in the genre of folk, acoustic, traditional, world or pop - that’s fine with John. He’s a man who is very comfortable in his skin. Whether performing solo with guitar, with gentle accompaniment or with full band before 10, 1...