Press Release 2012
Ceardlann Earraigh - Master Workshops and Grand Concert - Saturday March 31st.
Workshops in music, song and dance come no better than at ‘Ceardlann Earraigh’, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, in this its fourteenth consecutive year. Established by the Kildare County Board of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, this year’s event takes place on Saturday March 31st.
We are delighted again to welcome back ‘Concertina Maestro’ Noel Hill for another year. All students of Irish Music are familiar with the iconic recording of his duet with Tony Linnane (1978), which many have described as the ‘best traditional Irish music recording of all time’. Noel’s three solo recordings on the concertina are unparalleled and a must for all students of the concertina. Those who attend the workshops can only benefit from his genius and for those attending the ‘Grand Concert’ in The Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth at 8pm on March 31st, it will be a great privilege again to hear Noel play.
Nollaig Ni Laoire,was the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Corn Uí Riada, the highest accolade in sean-nós singing. Nollaig, from Dunderry, Co Meath, comes to ‘Ceardlann’ for the first time. Along with teaching sean-nós songs, Nollaig will also be imparting songs in English from her vast repetoire. This should be a real treat for all who attend.
David Doocey from Foxford, Mayois one of Ireland’s finest young fiddle tutors and performers. He is a member of the acclaimed group Grada with whom he has travelled extensively in Europe and further afield. David is also an accomplished concertina, whistle and guitar player but it’s his fiddling skills that we look forward to hearing at Ceardlann this year.
Teaching tin whistle for the fifth year is the incomparable and Ireland’s best, Seán Ryan. Seán has made many acclaimed recordings and his unique style is hugely respected and loved. His performance at the ‘The Grand Concert’ is always eagerly anticipated.
Bodhrán virtuoso Junior Daveyis welcomed back to ‘Ceardlann’ again this year. Junior is seen by many to be the leading bodhrán player of his generation and a listen to his CD ‘Skin and Bow’, a duet with Declan Folan substantiates this view. There’s always high demand for places in both Seán and Junior’s classes so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Returning again to Ceardlann Earraigh this year will be Kerryman Danny O’Mahony on accordion. Danny, one of the tastiest accordian players around, also presents an acclaimed, weekly, traditional music programme ‘Trip to the Cottage’ on Radio Kerry. He teaches at many workshops throughout the length and breadth of the country and has been a constant at Scoil Éigse, the traditional music school that is an integral part of ‘Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann’.
Attending ‘Ceardlann’ after a two year absence is fiddler supremo Fergal Scahill. Fergal, who hails from Corofin, Galway released one of the landmark fiddle CDs of recent times ‘The Dusty Bridge’. Fergal has been playing music professionally since leaving school and has performed with some of the legends of Irish music including Frankie Gavin, Paul Brock and Kevin Crawford. He has toured extensively with many successful young bands such as Téada, Ragús, Celtic Legends and The David Munnelly Band.
Tom Doorley, master flute player and Danú band member, is welcomed to ‘Ceardlann’ for the second year. He is one of the best exponents of traditional flute playing around while still maintaining an interest in classical music. Tom also has had the distinction of performing live with the Australian band Men at Work in the hit song “I Come From a Land Down Under”. Tom is a renowned teacher and with all the above influences coming to bear his performance is one to look forward to.
We are delighted to have Jack Talty from Lissycasey in West Clare to tutor concertina. A regular performer and tutor at music festivals and workshops around the world, Jack has performed extensively throughout Europe, the United States and Australia and also has a wealth of experience working in recording studios as a musician, engineer and producer. In July 2011 Jack released Na Fir Bolg, a duet album with concertina player Cormac Begley. He is also one of Ireland’s best known traditional piano players and is much sought after as an accompanist. A day with Jack will undoubtedly prove most rewarding!
Teaching Banjofor the first time at Ceardlann Earraigh is the incomparable Angelina Carberry. From a family in Longford steeped in the tradition, Angelina has few peers on her chosen instrument. She has many critically acclaimed albums to her name, including her solo CD ‘An Traidisiún Beo’. Angelina has taught at most of the big music festivals at home and abroad including Scoil Éigse at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. One’s banjo skills can only be improved after a few hours with Angelina.
Sarah-Jane Woodsfrom Dublin will be teaching tin whistle. She has toured internationally with the group Liadán and is a much sought after tutor. Sarah-Jane tutors annually at the ‘Joe Mooney Summer School’ in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim.
For followers of Set Dancing, Aidan Vaughan doesn’t need an introduction. Aidan from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare is famed in the four corners of Ireland and abroad for his exuberant and traditional battering steps. Aidan tutors annually at the ‘Willie Clancy Summer School’ and is welcomed to ‘Ceardlann’ for the first time in what promises to be a memorable occasion!
All these great musicians/dancer will perform in the ‘Ceardlann Earraigh Grand Concert’ in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth at 8pm on Saturday 31st March following the workshops.
Directions and Timetable:
The workshops will be held in Scoil na Mainistreach, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. Celbridge is situated 12 miles from Dublin city centre and is easily accessible from the N4, N7 and M50, with Dublin Bus number 67 running directly to the village from Dublin city centre. Alternatively one can take Bus Eireann number 120, also available from the city centre. Registration and grading takes place at 10.45am with the classes following from 11.30am to 4.30pm. The fee for the workshops is €20, which allows free entry, for junior participants, to ‘The Grand Concert’ at 8pm on the night.
Celbridge is adjacent to the towns of Maynooth, Leixlip and Lucan. Join us in Celbridge for the music, singing, craic and Grand Concert in what should prove to be The Best of all Workshops. Bígí Linn!
For further information please visit our website at www.ceardlannearraigh.com
PRESS RELEASE FOR 2011 EVENT:
Ceardlann Earraigh - Master Workshops and Grand Concert
Workshops in music, song and dance come no better than at ‘Ceardlann Earraigh’, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, in this its fourteenth consecutive year. Established by the Kildare County Board of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, this year’s event takes place on Saturday April 16th 2011.
We are delighted this year to have singer, Seán Ó Sé as tutor, performer and Fear an tí at The Grand Concert. God knows there are few better performers than Seán around and his legendary yarns will ensure a fantastic day and night of entertainment idir óg is aosta at Ceardlann ’11. Seán from Ballylickey, Cork will forever be associated with the great Seán O Riada. Last year at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Cavan Sean was honoured with the award of Árd Ollamh.
Present also will be ‘Concertina Maestro’ and winner of the TG4 Musician of the Year award 2011, Noel Hill. All students of Irish Music are familiar with the iconic recording of his duet with Tony Linnane (1978), which many have described as the ‘best traditional Irish music recording of all time’. Noel’s three solo recordings on the concertina are unparralled and a must for all students of the concertina. Those who attend the workshops can only benefit from his genius and for those attending the ‘Grand Concert’ in The Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth at 8pm on April 16th, it will be a great privilege again to hear Noel play.
Ceardlann is also delighted to welcome ‘Banjo Wizard’ Gerry O Connor as tutor and performer. Gerry has continually pushed the parameters of banjo playing, so much that he has been described as being “the single best four string banjoist inthe history of Irish Music’ byEarl Hitchener, Music Critic for the Wall Street Journal, Celtic Music and The Irish Echo (USA). Gerry has guested over the years with many famous Irish artists such as The Waterboy's, Mary Black, Arcady, Moya Brennan, Luka Bloom and performed for US President Bill Clinton in Belfast during his historic visit to Ireland. He is a member of the band ‘Four Men and a Dog’. Gerry’s performance in the Grand Concert is eagerly anticipated.
John Carty is one of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians having been awarded TG4’s Traditional Musician of the Year in 2003. John who will be teaching and performing fiddle at Ceardlann is equally adept on the banjo and flute as heard on his many recordings both solo and with such illustrious groups as ‘At the Racket’ and ‘Patrick Street’. John has also guested with ‘De Dannan’ and ‘The Chieftains’ and plays regularly with flautist Matt Molloywith whom he recorded the album ‘Pathway to the Well’ in 2007. John is a much sought after tutor and no doubt his concert performance will be worth the admission on its own.
Teaching tin whistle for the fourth year is the incomparable and Ireland’s best, Seán Ryan. Seán has made many acclaimed recordings and his unique style is hugely respected and loved. His performance at the ‘The Grand Concert’ is always eagerly anticipated. Bodhrán virtuoso Junior Davey is welcomed back to ‘Ceardlann’ again this year. Junior is seen by many to be the leading bodhrán player of his generation and a listen to his CD ‘Skin and Bow’, a duet with Declan Folan substantiates this view. There’s always high demand for places in both Seán and Junior’s classes so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Returning again to Ceardlann Earraigh this year will be Kerryman Danny O’Mahony on accordian. Danny, one of the tastiest accordian players around. also presents an acclaimed, weekly, traditional music programme ‘Trip to the Cottage’ on Radio Kerry. He teaches at many workshops throughout the length and breadth of the country and has been a constant at Scoil Éigse, the traditional music school that is an integral part of ‘Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann’.
Attending ‘Ceardlann’ after a year’s absence is fiddler supremo Fergal Scahill. Fergal, who hails from Corofin, Galway released one of the landmark fiddle CDs of recent times ‘ The Dusty Bridge’. Fergal has been playing music professionally since leaving school and has performed with some of the legends of Irish music including Frankie Gavin, Paul Brock and Kevin Crawford. He has toured extensively with many successful young bands such as Teada, Ragús, Celtic Legends and The David Munnelly Band.
Tom Doorley, master flute player and Danú band member, is a very welcome addition to the 2011 line up. He is one of the best exponents of traditional flute playing around while still maintaining an interest in classical music. Tom also has had the distinction of performing live with the Australian band Men at Work in the hit song’ I Come From a Land Down Under’. Tom is a renowned teacher and with all the above influences coming to bear his performance is one to look forward to.
Sarah-Jane Woods from Dublin will be teaching tin whistle. She has toured internationally with the group Liadán and is a much sought after tutor. Sarah-Jane tutors annually at the ‘Joe Mooney Summer School’ in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim.
For followers of Sean – Nós dance, Sibéal Davitt doesn’t need an introduction. Sibéal, winner of the TG4 Glas Vegas competition in 2009, promises an enjoyable and informative day in all the intricacies that make up this oldest dancing tradition.
All these great musicians/dancer will perform in the ‘Ceardlann Earraigh Grand Concert’ in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth at 8pm on Saturday 16th April 2011 following the workshops.
Directions and Timetable
The workshops will be held in Scoil na Mainistreach, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. Celbridge is situated 12 miles from Dublin city centre and is easily accessible from the N4, N7 and M50, with Dublin Bus number 67 running directly to the village from Dublin city centre. Alternatively one can take Bus Eireann number 120, also available from the city centre. Registration and grading takes place at 10.45am with the classes following from 11.30am to 4.30pm. The fee for the workshops is €20, which allows free entry, for junior participants, to ‘The Grand Concert’ at 8pm on the night.
Celbridge is adjacent to the towns of Maynooth, Leixlip and Lucan. Join us in Celbridge for the music, singing, craic and Grand Concert in what should prove to be The Best of all Workshops. Bígí Linn!
For further information please visit our website at www.ceardlannearraigh.com