News
Traditional Irish Music Workshop 2014
Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore was filled with the sound of music, song and laughter on Saturday the 26th eighty one musicians and singers came together to attend our Traditional Irish Music Workshop.
Our Tutors in action
We would like to thank all the personnel involved in the preparation and operation of our hugely successful Workshop. We would also like to thank all the parents who are constantly ferrying their children to and from music lessons, practices, events, etc, both on the day but also on very many other days and they are the reason why we have such a strong tradition of Irish music which is of a really high standard in the midlands and this was very evident on Saturday. Together with many local musicians we had students come from places like Carlow, Kildare, Westmeath, just to name a few of the counties represented.
The workshops culminated with a group Seisiún which took place in the canteen area of the school where our tutors initially displayed their talents as a group and then all our students were invited to join in thus transforming the canteen area of the school into a lively music hall much to the delight of many parents and friends who came to listen.
Our WORKSHOP TUTORS
DAVID DOOCEY – FIDDLE
David from Foxfort, Co.Mayo, has won several awards including All-Ireland medals on the fiddle and also the first ever World Fleadh fiddle championship in 2005. He has also achieved the Feile Oriel trophy, an award previously held by Tommy Peoples. David has shared the stage with likes of Michael McGoldrick, Martin Hayes, Dermot Byrne and Sharon Shannon.
www.daviddoocey.com for more info
KIERAN MUNNELLY – FLUTE
Hailing from the West OF Ireland, Kieran is one of the founding member’s of the David Munnelly Band. Much sought after as a performer a teacher and a University lecturer; Kieran has held posts and tutored in institutes such as University of Limerick and Dublin College University.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmaR-XzHyxI
GAVIN WHEELAN – WHISTLE
Gavin Whelan is widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of the tin whistle in Ireland today. Gavin was a founding member of Dal Riada.
Gavin is very well known for the workshops he teaches at the Feakle Festival Co. Clare, Willie Clancy Summer School, Skerries Irish Music Festival and The Joe Mooney Summer School Drumshambo, Co.Letrim.
www.gavinwhelan.ie for more info
CLAIRE SHERRY – BANJO
Dublin born Claire Sherry is an accomplished banjo player with All Ireland and Leinster titles.
Claire is a highly regarded and sought after music teacher throughout Ireland.
Claire has performed all over the world with many well-established musicians.
www.clairesherry.com for more info
DAOIRI FARRELL – SINGING
Daoiri is a folk singer from Dublin who is a graduate of the Ceoltoir Higher National Diploma in Traditional Music Performance course. Daoiri has more recently won the senior All-Ireland singing competition in Derry.
www.daoiri.com for more info
KIERAN LEONARD –BODHRAN
Kieran hails from Enniskillen, Co.Fermanagh. Kieran was the 2011 All-Ireland senior Bodhrán champion. He was also a member of the Echoes of Erin tour group who toured Britain and North America. Kieran is now studying Orchestral Percussion, Tampani and Jazz in London.
DARREN BRESLIN – BUTTON ACCORDION
Darren hails from Lisnaskea, Co.Fermanagh and is a former All – Ireland Champion on the button accordion. Darren is a very well established music teacher and a very sought after performer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdI1tzAWrUg
GRETA CURTIN – CONCERTINA
Greta Curtain Hails from Brosna Co.Kerry and has been playing music from a very early age. Being a resident tutor in Killarney School of Music, Greta is very experienced in teaching people of all ages.
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_231_1_curtin_sisters_and_friends
...
Coppers & Brass
You can catch us in action if you tune into Coppers & Brass program on Midlands Radio 3 this Sunday 9th of March from 6 – 8PM as Padraig Duffy has invited to join him and play a few tunes for his listeners.
...
Scór na nÓg All Ireland final 2014
Scór na nÓg All Ireland final which was held in Castlebar yesterday 1st of March,
Congratulations from All of us in Rahan Comhaltas:
to Shamrocks GAA club quiz team who came 4th out of 28 teams from across the country who competed in the event.
Also to the Ferbane ballad group who took the honors and have become All Ireland champions for 2014.
Commiserations to:
Na fianna from Killeigh who were unsuccessful in the Ceol Ulrllse / Instrumental music category
and also to Brianna Rice’s team Padraig Pearses from Roscommon who also didn’t make it with their act entitled ‘Mythological Love!’ in the léIrIú catagory despite both groups putting in a very strong and polished performances but unfortunately this wasn’t to be their year.
...
2014 Comhaltas Tour of Britain
Best of luck to our own James Hogan and all the gang who are performing in the Comhaltas Echoes of Eirin tour of Britain this week, they are covering the following 8 venues:
| Sat 15 Feb | Leicester | 8pm |
| Sun 16 Feb | Milton Keynes | 7pm |
| Mon 17 Feb | Oxford | 8pm |
| Tues 18 Feb | Leeds | 8pm |
| Wed 19 Feb | Liverpool | 8pm |
| Thurs 20 Feb | Newcastle | 8pm |
| Fri 21 Feb | Luton | 8pm |
| Sat 22 Feb | Haringey |
8pm |
...
Rahan Drama Group
Best Wishes to Rahan Drama Group who will be staging their production of “Love thy Neighbor” by Jimmy Carey in Rahan Hall from March 21st to 23rd.
Our own Betty Digan and Cormack Mc’Conigley are staring in the show so it makes for a good nights craic, not to be missed.
Good luck in the preparations folks.
...
Fleadh Cheoil Uíbh Fhailí 2014
Hi Folks, just to let you know that anyone who signed up for Grúpa Cheoil or Céilí Bands are practicing between 7 and 8 every Friday. Starting tomorrow. Commitment is needed and places are limited. . Attendance to practices are crucial. Roll call will be taken every night. Also bring a pen, music folder for tunes and something to record the tunes. Cheers, James…..:)
Our “Lar Tire” Grupa Cheoil 12-15 years old competing in the Leinster Fleadh 2013
Anybody interested in being part of a ceili band or grupa cheoil in any age group for this years fleadh?,
If so then please register your interest with James Hogan during the music and dance classes this Friday evening at 7 PM!
...
Mummers festival New Inn 2014
After much preparation through late December, here is how we got on.
Junior group results; following a very impressive group performance Michael John Digan won the “most entertaining performer”, Eabha Fulton won the “best solo singer” and Rosin O’Brien won the “best solo flute player” categories, while the whole group came second in the over all event amid strong competition. Congratulations to all participants and a big thank you to both the parents and Deirdre Byrne who collectively coached our very talented group. Also thank you to our scriptwriter this year Fiona Byrne.
Senior group also put in a very impressive and polished performance resulting in James Hogan winning the “best individual musician from our group”, Shauna Mc’Garrigle won both the Joe Monahan perpetual shield for being the “best king” and also the “most entertaining performer” categories and such was the performance from the group her closest rivals on the night could well have been our own Rosie Fada or Jimmy Beag for the entertainer prize. Again congratulations to all participants and a big thank you to our scriptwriter Emmett and our coaches Deirdre and James.
Of course you have to celebrate such successes with a good auld party and seisiun.
...
2013 Christmas Day Seisiun in Tullamore Hospital
It was great to see the big turn out of musicians on the day that was in it, we even had a few solo performances from Eabha and Rosin and we are thankful to all who were able to come.
Hopefully we were able to brighten some of the patients day.
...