South Sligo Summer School to host a number of events this summer

The organising committee have worked tirelessly to put together a programme of events and activities at this year’s South Sligo Summer School which will appeal to musicians, singers and dancers of all ages and levels of experience. Tutors of the highest calibre will teach Workshops in a range of instruments, including fiddle, flute, whistle, uilleann pipes, concertina, banjo, button accordion, traditional guitar, bodhrán and harp as well as traditional singing, lilting, sean nós singing and dancing, set dancing and, for adults, mixed melody instruments.

This year they are delighted to host their Annual Tribute Concert in The May Queen on Monday 15th July at 8 pm sharp. A mighty line up of musicians, singers and dancers will be gathering to pay tribute to renowned Bodhrán & Bones player Junior Davey. Junior, a native of Clooneigh, Gurteen, Co Sligo, has been teaching music at the summer school for over thirty years. His contribution to the summer school down the years has been immense, always generous with his time and talents. On Wednesday afternoon, Junior will give a warmly anticipated presentation on ‘The Significance of Bodhrán & Bones Playing in Irish traditional Music’. 

This will be preceded on Monday afternoon by ‘Trad Tech Talk’ – an Informative Talk on the technical process & use of microphones for both recording and live performances with traditional instruments w/ Stephen Doherty and on Tuesday afternoon by a feature on the Fiddle & Flute Duet tradition of South Sligo & East Mayo w/ John Mc Evoy and John Wynne. Thursday’s afternoon talk will be of great interest to our neighbours in the Bonniconlon and Aghamore areas when Des Hurley & Chris O’Malley will give a presentation on ‘The Leeds Irish Music Community’. We finish out the week with box player and traditional singer Donie Nolan who will share some of the rich store of ‘Music & Songs of West Limerick’, his native place. All afternoon talks will take place in St Brigid’s Hall at 2.30 pm, all welcome.

Practice sessions for all are a popular feature of our summer school and we are delighted that Tubbercurry Community Library is once again hosting the Childrens’ Sessions, Tuesday to Friday at 3.30 pm with improver adults catered for at St Brigid’s Hall on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5.30 to 7.30 pm at St Brigid’s Hall.

Other highlights of the week include nightly céilís in St Brigid’s Hall with bands including Swallows Tail, Matt Cunningham, Rise the Dust, Dartry, Innisfree, Taylor’s Cross & Glenside, all from 8.30 – 11.30 pm as well as nightly concerts and recitals at 8 pm in The May Queen, featuring summer school tutors, guest musicians and summer school students. Dancers will have plenty of opportunities to dance during the day as well as at night, with morning set dancing workshops for adults taught by set dance master Pat Murphy & sean nós dance workshops each afternoon, Monday to Friday w/ Eiméar Mulvey, founder of Bróga Bríomhar. Childrens’ sean nós dance, 2.30 – 3.15, Beginner Teens & Adults, 3.30 – 4.15 and advanced Dancers, 4.30 – 5.15, so something for everyone.

Don’t miss the launch of ‘The Dancer at the Fair’, fiddle and flute album featuring John Wynne & John McEvoy, at Tuesday night’s recital and Longford banjo player Elaine Reilly’s album ‘Epiphany’ on Wednesday night in The May Queen, just two of a number of album launches taking place at the recitals during the week.

Following the Official Opening by renowned Fiddle Player, Tutor & founding member of ‘Buttons & Bows’, Manus McGuire, in St Brigid’s Hall on Sunday evening at 7 pm and the opening céilí of the week with the great Swallows Tail Céilí Band, registration is on Monday, 15th July from 8.30 am with workshops starting at 10 am. 

A warm welcome awaits one and all.