FESTIVAL EVENTS :
Fiddle - The Maurice O'Keeffe Perpetual Cup
Duet Competition - The Murice O'Keeffe Perpetual Shield
Location: Kiskeam National School
Time: 11:00am
Set Dancing Workshop Reviving the Older Sets from the area.
With John "The Lepper" Lynch
Location: Kiskeam Community Centre.
Time: 2:30pm
Céilí Mór: With Multi All Ireland Champions,
"The Shandrum Céilí Band" (Big Band)
Location: Ballydesmond Hall
Time: 9:30pm
Singing Session: with Christy Cronin, Nora Mary O'Riordan, Pat Sullivan & Steve Roche.
Location: The Shamrocks, Kiskeam
Time: 5:00pm
Session: With Mike & Neil Brosnan, Geraldine Brosnan
Location: The Shamrocks, Kiskeam
Time: 3:00pm
Session: With Timmy O'Connor, Pat Fleming, Conor Daly,Fionn O'Hanlon, Simon Creehan, Billy O'Keeffe & Timmy Keane
Location: The Why Not, Kiskeam
Time: 5:30pm
Session: With Connie Moynihan, Ger Culhane & Denis O'Connor
Location: The Why Not, Kiskeam
Time: 9:30pm
Session: With Nicky & Anne McAuliffe, Mary Crowley & John Connelly
Location: John D's - Sliabh Luachra, Ballydesmond
Time: 6:00pm
Session: With Darragh O'Shea, Rachel O'Connor, Síle Kavanagh & Leah Murphy
Location: John D's - Sliabh Luachra, Ballydesmond
Time: 9:30pm
Session: With Jonathan Roche, Eilís Murphy & Sean Leahy
Location: Bob's Bar, Ballydesmond
Time: 9:00pm
**Today will be a full day of events, from Music Sessions to Set Dancing Workshops, Competitions and The Céilí Mór
You will be immersed in an entire day of Irish Music, Dance and Singing today.
Arrive early so you have leisurely time to stroll around town and you will surely want to have a tasting of the unforgettable Irish local baked goods and confectionery, such as Scones, Brown Breads, Apple & Rhubarb Tarts, Queen Cakes, Cheesecakes & Madeira Cakes.
Over 2,000 years ago, during the Iron Age Era, Celtic people settled in Ireland and started creating their own music in about 500 BC.
It was then that traditional Irish music was born, and it was handed down through the generations through aural and oral traditions. Musicians would learn by ear, and they never formally wrote down the music or lyrics.
Irish folk music evolved over the centuries and became an important thread running through Irish history. The melodies and lyrics of some folk songs carry a history and knowledge from way back when. They continue our story as a people to the present day
On the Calendar this morning is the Set Dancing Workshop with John "The Lepper" Lynch!
Irish Set Dancing - Steip a dhéanamh (Gaelic) are based on quadrilles, which were court dances. These were transformed by the Irish into a unique folk dance of the Irish rural communities. A form of social dancing, sets are danced by four couples in a square, and usually consist of three to six Figures with a short pause between each.
You will love this evenings concert featuring The Shandrum Céilí Band, formation of the band was in December 2014. The band is now, more so than ever in demand across the country and abroad to perform music for dances, concerts and céilithe.
Each of their members, have their own impressive history.....
Alan Finn, the band’s leader, is an Accordion and Fiddle player from Buttevant, Co. Cork. He began playing music at the age of five, learning from his cousin Maggie McCarty, and from very early on, attended local music sessions in the North Cork area. He has many All-Ireland titles to his name, not only as leader of the Awbeg and Shandrum Céilí Bands, but also in solo, duet and trio competitions. Alan has been awarded the prestigious Micheál O’hÉidhin medal and the Churchtown medal of honour in recognition of his accomplishments. He has toured extensively across Europe and America, most notably playing for President Barack Obama in the White House on St. Patrick’s Day 2009. Alan now teaches music and he has coached his students, Grupaí Ceoil and Céilí Bands to many All-Ireland successes.
Mikie O’Gorman is a fiddle player who hails from a strong musical family in Boherbue, Co. Cork. He began learning the fiddle when he was 9 years old, becoming well versed in the local Sliabh Luachra style of fiddle playing. He was a member of the underage Maule Cross Céilí Band who went on to have great success at county, provincial and All-Ireland level. He also claimed All-Ireland honours in the 15-18 trio competition of Fleadh Cheoil 2009 with two other members of that band, including his brother Billy. Mikie currently works as a primary school teacher in Ballincollig, Co. Cork and is a prominent fiddle player and teacher in Co. Cork and beyond.
Eddie Kiely is a fiddle player from Boherbue, Co. Cork. He started playing music at the age of 8, learning from Buttevant musician, Alan Finn. He later joined the Freemount branch of Comhaltas winning All-Ireland medals with the u15 Crossfields Céilí Band and with an u18 grúpa ceoil, both under the guidance of Alan Finn. He also performed in the National Concert Hall in the 2014 final of Siansa Gael Linn with the group Lasair. Eddie is currently a primary school teacher and teaches with the Freemount branch of Comhaltas.
Brian O’Loughlin was born and raised in the north Clare village of Corofin. From a strong musical family, he started the flute at the age of 8. At 11 years of age, he won his first All Ireland solo title and duet title with his brother Keith. He also had numerous All-Ireland successes in the underage céilí band competitions, being a member of the Inis Óg Céilí Band under the direction of Padraic O’Reilly. In 2015, Brian released an album with French piper Tom Delany, accompanied by West Kerry’s Dessie Kelleher on guitar. Brian now resides in Ennis where he is a much sought after performer and teacher.
Timmy Collins is a flute player and set dancer from Kiskeam, Co. Cork. A native of Sliabh Luachra, he has been heavily influenced by the musicians of this unique style of traditional Irish music. His interest in céilí bands began in his teens when dancing at céilithe and playing with the underage Maule Cross Céilí Band. He has competed and often championed at All-Ireland level competitions, in both music and dancing, such as Fleadh, Siansa and Scór. As a fluent Irish speaker, Timmy finished the Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas in NUI Galway to become a secondary school teacher in Irish and Mathematics.
Keith O’Loughlin was born in Corofin, Co Clare, an area rich in the Irish music tradition. He comes from a very musical family and started playing the banjo at the age of 8 under the tutelage of Marcus Moloney. He competed with success in the All-Ireland Fleadh on a number of occasions in solo, duet and trio competitions and with the Burren and Inis Óg céilí bands and groups. Keith regularly teaches at workshops both in Ireland and abroad and he can be found playing all over Clare and at various festivals around the country throughout the year.
Tadgh O’Sullivan is a concertina player from Millstreet, Co. Cork. He started playing music at the age of 9, learning from Lixnaw musician, Anne McAuliffe. He later joined the Freemount branch of Comhaltas winning All-Ireland medals with the u15 Crossfields Céilí Band and with an u18 grúpa ceoil, both under the guidance of Alan Finn. He also performed in the National Concert Hall in the 2014 final of Siansa Gael Linn with the group Lasair. Tadgh is currently a primary school teacher and teaches with the Millstreet, and Freemount branches of Comhaltas.
Aileen O’Callaghan is a piano player from Mallow in North Cork. She took up music at a very early age and went on to study Music at University College Cork before completing her training in Education in 2014. She has had huge success with céilí bands, having played the fiddle with the 2012 All Ireland Champions, The Awbeg Céilí Band. She has been teaching piano and concertina for the past 14 years. She has performed across Europe including England, France, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. Aileen currently teaches Maths and Music at St. Aloysius Secondary School, Cork.
Ger Naughton is a musician from Newtownshandrum in Co. Cork. He is a recent graduate of Architecture having studied in University College Cork, and is now a practicing Architect. Ger has played music practically all his life. He started learning the concertina at the age of 6 from Con Herbert, competing in the Fleadh Cheoil almost every year since in underage solo, group and band competitions. Ger also plays the bodhrán, drums and bouzouki, which he teaches at several local Comhaltas branches and performs at gigs, concerts and céilithe regularly throughout the country.
Bláithín Kennedy is a multi-instrumentalist from Co. Tipperary. Blaithín has been an All Round winner at the All Ireland Fleadhanna Cheoils from a very young age - having won All Ireland medals in Fiddle, Viola, Mandolin, Tin Whistle and the Newly Composed Tune competition. Bláithín has also taken second place in the highly esteemed Fiddler of Dooney Competition in Co.Sligo. She was also a part of the senior Grúpa Ceoil ‘Tairseach’ that took first place at the All Ireland Fleadh in 2018. She has completed her SCT Comhaltas exams and performance diploma on fiddle and was awarded an hÉidhin medal in recognition of the grade she achieved. In 2019, Blaithín was part of the Echoes of Éireann Comhaltas Tour of Ireland and Great Britain. She is currently studying to become a Primary School Teacher in Mary Immaculate College.
Andrew Collins. Hailing from Dringah, near Skibbereen in West County Cork, Andrew is a dancer and multi instrumentalist. Playing both the Piano, and the Piano Accordion, he was crowned the senior Munster champion on both instruments at the Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022, in Newcastlewest. Andrew has won seven All Ireland medals in Fleadh Cheoil competitions in both Dancing and Music throughout the years. He was recently awarded the prestigious Mícheál Ó hEidhin medallion for achieving a distinction result in his Grade 8 SCT exam. He dances in both the styles of Sean Nós dancing and Irish dancing. Having qualified for three world Irish Dancing Championships, Sean Nós dancing is his preferred style as well as his brush being his favourite dance partner. Andrew is currently studying to become a primary school teacher in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and is a regular performer as both a musician and dancer at many festivals and Fleadh Cheoils across Ireland.
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