Workshops take place on Saturday 21st September 2024 from 10:00am - 1:00pm.
Michael Rooney
Originally from Scotstown, Co. Monaghan and now a long time resident of County Sligo, Michael has composed 19 suites of music in the past 20 years, including ‘The Ulster Suite’ (2022), ‘Clairseoireacht’ (2022), Constance (2020), The Famine Suite (2019), The Macalla Suite (2016), Boróimhe Suite (2014), The Second Coming (2014), De Cuellar Suite (2011) and Battle of the Books Suite (2007). Michael was awarded the TG4 Composer of the Year in 2017.
An album of ‘The Macalla Suite’ was released in December 2016, performed by The Macalla Orchestra and recorded Live in Monaghan. He has recorded three CDs with flute player and wife June McCormack; ‘Tobar an Cheoil’, 'Draíocht' and 'Land's End'. He is also a member of Sligo’s Dartry Ceili Band. Michael has published four books of his own compositions; 'Harp Tunes' (2006), Aifreann Gaeilge (2012), 'The de Cuéllar Suite' (2012), ‘The Macalla Suite’ (2016).
June McCormack
June comes from Ballintogher, Co. Sligo. In 1998, June was awarded The TG4 Gradam ‘Young Musician of the Year Award’ in the Town Hall Theatre in Galway, and that same year, she won the All Ireland Senior Flute Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ballina.
A primary school teacher by profession, June has published two flute tutorial books in recent years, Fliúit (2006) and Fliúit 2 (2009). She has recorded three CDs with Michael Rooney; ‘Tobar an Cheoil’ (2022), 'Land's End' (2006) and Draíocht' (2004). June is a member of Sligo’s Dartry Ceili Band.
June was member of the music group, Síona, that recorded the 1998 album, ‘Launching the Boat’, with Kevin Brehony (piano), Damien O’Brien (fiddle), Oliver Loughlin (piano accordion).
A highly respected fiddle-player, composer and teacher based in County Meath, John has been described as a “supreme traditional musician”. John has performed with Bakerswell, Kelp and Providence among others. He made a number of solo and duet recordings, most notably, the highly acclaimed “Kilmore Fancy” with his sister Catherine and “Pride of the West” with flute player John Wynne, described by the Irish Examiner as . . . “a gem”.
John has performed and taught in Europe, New Zealand and the U.S.A. He is a founding member of the traditional group Gatehouse and a tutor of longstanding at Scoil Gheimhridh Willie Clancy. Whether performing on stage or in a workshop setting, John brings an extraordinary energy and finesse which never fails to leave a lasting impression.
John McEvoy
George McAdam
From Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, George McAdam is one of the foremost tenor banjo players of his generation. Claiming the title of ‘Senior All-Ireland Champion’ on banjo in 2015, he is highly sought after as an accomplished performer and tutor both in Ireland and overseas. George regularly teaches at notable summer schools such as Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Joe Mooney and Scoil Éigse. He recently performed and tutored at Belfast TradFest and Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh.
In addition to his solo banjo prowess, George is a member of the Blackwater Céilí Band, winning the All-Ireland Céilí Band title at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018. The band has gone on to record two successful albums over the last few years. George has also featured on RTÉ and TG4 programmes including ‘Comhludar Cheoil’, ‘Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy’ and the ‘Fleadh Cheoil’ on RTE1.
Martha Guiney (tin whistle)
Martha Guiney, winner of BBC NI/Arts Council NI Young Musicians' Platform Award, released her debut album, 'The Raven's Call' in February 2023. The award winning County Down flute and whistle player has toured internationally and collaborated with many renowned artists in Scotland, Denmark, Finland, South Korea, Norway, Brazil, Italy, the US and beyond
Martha was selected to perform as a soloist at the prestigious BBC Proms and has also featured as the primary artist in a number of collaborative projects with The Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland (CBOI), The Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) and The Ulster Orchestra. Martha graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Music at Dundalk Institute of Technology and a Masters in Traditional Irish Music Performance from the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick.
Ciara Tighe
Ciara Tighe, a highly accomplished button accordion player from Ennis, County Clare, claimed All-Ireland success in senior duet competitions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (2023) with fellow musician Áine Murphy.
Drawn to music from a young age, Ciara learned from Caoimhe Millar, drawing inspiration from Darren Breslin, Paddy O’Brien and Joe Burke to name a few. Ciara has been a long standing member of Tulla Comhaltas, with many Céilí Bands & Grúpa Ceoil competitions under her belt.
Ciara is sought after as a performer and button accordion tutor, playing at numerous festivals across Ireland.
Jane Walls
Jane Walls from Moneyglass, County Antrim took up the uilleann pipes under the guidance of tutor Gay McKeon. Jane has won 6 All-Ireland titles for solo competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉirinn where she has also been very successful in duet & group competition, performing with members of the Walls family.
She is winner of Siansa 2018, a competition for traditional Irish music groups organised by Gael Linn, with her group ‘Spleodar’. Jane has performed in Áras an Uachtaráin, Stormont, as well as having multiple appearances on television and stages across Ireland, to include Vicar Street. Jane is paving the way as one of Ireland’s finest uilleann pipers of her generation.
Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh
Mícheál O’ Raghallaigh is one of the foremost concertina players of his generation. He has been a member of the band Providence, along with Paul Doyle, Troy Bannon, Cyril O'Donoghue and Michelle O'Brien. He is member of the Táin & Naomh Pádraig Céilí Bands, and has released two solo albums titled ‘The Nervous Man’ & ‘Inside Out’.
Mícheál has also collaborated with Catherine McEvoy and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh as well as accordion player Danny O'Mahony. His most recent recording has been a collaboration with Tim Collins, Pádraig Rynne, Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Edel Fox, entitled ICE (Irish Concertina Ensemble). They released an album in 2015 called Zero.