The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Scoil Cheoil gets to the heart of Corca Dhuibhne culture
AN opportunity to delve further into the rich culture and traditions of Chorca Dhuibhne will be presented by the organisers of Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh who have put together a full and varied programme for the music school and festival which takes place this weekend.
Primarily a music school which teaches music from West Kerry, the weekend includes a combination of classes which span a wide range of traditional musical instruments as well as singing, dancing and Gaelic languages. The classes cater to an assortment of abilities from those with basic skills to master classes with leading exponents such as Desi Wilkinson on flute and Kevin Burke on fiddle.
The panel of tutors for the classes includes some new additions this year and first time teachers at the festival include Desi Wilkinson (flute and tin whistle), Jeremy Spencer (fiddle), Gearóid Ó Duinnín (guitar), Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich (sean nós singing), Eimear Donnellan (concertina) and Emma Corbett (accordion). These will join in delivering classes with the more familiar faces of Fidelma O’Brien (banjo) and Mick O’Brien (uileann pipes), Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (sean nós singing), Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (fiddle), Aoife Granville (flute), Deirdre Granville (harp), Eithne Ní Chatháin (fiddle), Colm Murphy (bodhrán), Bríd Donnelly (tin whistle), Oisín Morrison (tin whistle) Aindí Ó Súilleabháin (harmonica),
Eoin Ó Beaglaíoch (concertina) Allan MacDonald (bagpipes) and finally but most definitely not least Breánndán Ó Beaglaoich who, as well as teaching accordion, is one of the organisers of the event.
Learners and lovers of traditional music can enjoy concerts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, featuring Maighréad and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Desi Wilkinson and Kevin Burke who will share the stage with an array of talented interpreters of traditional music.
Apart from music classes the weekend, which is conducted though the Irish language, explores other aspects of the culture of Corca Dhuibhne with creative writing classes with Dairena Ní Chinnéide, a talk on the wealth stored in Irish proverbs by Prof. Pádraig Ó hÉalaí and a walk through the area with Micheál Ó Mainín who will share his very considerable knowledge of the locality.
Clíodhna Ní Bheaglaíoch will give a talk with Seán Hughes at 5pm in Áras Bhréanainn on Friday on the results of their research into Corca Dhuibhne music as stored in the Irish Traditional Music Archive. On Saturday master classes will be held in flute and fiddle presented by Desi Wilkinson and Kevin Burke respectively.
Tickets for concerts are on sale in the shop in Baile ‘n Fheirtéaraigh and online from EventBrite. Further details on classes, concerts and events as well as a full timetable of events is available at www.scoilcheoil.com.