Scoil Cheoil brings a mighty weekend of music and craic
ANYBODY who missed Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh should perform whatever acrobatic feat is necessary to kick themselves. It was only mighty!
From the launch last Wednesday to the close of the event late on Sunday night there was music coming out the doors and out people’s ears as impromptu sessions started up in Ballyferriter’s pubs; and classrooms, meeting rooms and spare rooms in the village and as far afield as Tig Áine’s restaurant and Louis Mulcahy’s pottery were pressed into service for music classes, lectures and cultural gatherings.
Given that this was a scoil cheoil, music classes played a central part and at these adults perched alongside children on diminutive school chairs as they were guided though the intricacies of jigs and reels by masters in the art.
Music classes aside, the scoil cheoil was diverse and engaging. Saturday afternoon in Ballyferriter’s Ionad Gaeilge & Gaeltachta was an example with Steve Cooney guiding an audience, made up mostly of musicians, through the brilliantly simple version of music notation that he has been working on for over 20 years. In the next room the topic was tunes from Estonia and, down the hall, Peppin de Munhalen was explaining and playing music from Asturias.
“It couldn’t have been better - there was a huge turnout at all events and there was double the turnout at many events compared to last year,” said Niamh Ní Bhaoill, who organises the scoil cheoil along with Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich.
“The workshops and masterclasses had great numbers, especially Steve Cooney’s workshop on harmony and syncopation and the Estonian and Asturian music workshops…The visitors from Estonia and Asturias were a fantastic addition to events, they totally embraced our culture and shared their own music and song at every opportunity,” she added.
“It was an amazing turnout and we’d like to thank everyone who gave their time to the Scoil Cheoil - all the volunteers, all the venues, the local businesses who supported us, the teachers who shared their music, all the performers and everyone who came to the classes and concerts and other events,” said Niamh. “Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimíd.”
And, in the midst of all the songs, tunes and supping of pints, a coffee morning held in Múséam Baile an Fheirtéaraigh on Sunday in aid of the heart unit at Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin raised €1,157. Then they went back to amhránaíocht in Tigh an tSaorsaigh, ‘ceol sa chaife’ in Louis Mulcahy’s and – for fear there might be any want of variety – a lecture on the tradition of arranged marriages.
Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh 2018 will take place from February 14 – 18. If you missed this year’s event put the dates in your diary… after you’ve stopped kicking yourself!