THE Aenach or Assembly has its origin in pre-Christian Ireland. The earliest accounts relate to the Ard Fheis at Tara, also known as the Aenach, held at Samhann, the beginning of November. Later the assembly had a role in the inauguration of the Ui Neill kings, who ruled the northern part of Ireland. The Feiseanna [...]

The pattern or pátrún was celebrated in practically every parish in Ireland from the middle ages to the mid-19th century. Essentially a
religious event associated with holy wells, lakes or high ground, pattern day was also an important social occasion in the rural calendar.
It has its origins in pre-Christian times and its festive aspect bears many [...]

This song was written by Jimmy McCarthy (b1956, Macroom, Co Cork) who also wrote No Frontiers for Mary Black. Other songs he penned include Missing You, Bright Blue Rose and Mystic Lipstick. It was the title track of Christy Moore’s 1984 album.
The author explained on Radio Eireann in February 2010 that he once worked as an apprentice [...]

Supplies of shamrock have been “hit hard” by the severe winter weather and “won’t be easily found” this week, according to a leading botanist. Dr Declan Doogue  told the Irish Times that the shamrock crop was “only getting going” because, like other plants, its growing season had been “delayed by frost [...]

Below are full details of music and dancing events, classes, tutors, musicians singers etc.

In depth Irish Post interview with the sean nos singer

“We have a flawed and corrupt system,” the often outspoken folk singer tells Hot Press ….

Click on flags for details and directions

Click on a marker for details and directions.

Click on flags for details and directions

Dates, venues, map with directions question box and links to Irish music festivals and summer schools. Click on link on top menu bar.

Sean nos dancer Emma O’Sullivan hails from from Renvyle in Connemara. She took up sean nos dancing in 2005 while a business and marketing student at university in Galway and by 2009, at the age of 24, had won the All-Ireland Sean Nos Dancing title at Oireachtas na Samhna in Letterkenny.
She has danced in the United States, [...]

Connemara sean nos dancer Emma O’Sullivan became All Ireland Champion in 2009

The appearance of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem on the Ed Sullivan TV show in 1961 was a defining moment in the modern story of Irish singing. In England and Scotland in the late 1950s the number of folk clubs was growing, the most influential being Ewan MacColl’s Singers Club in London.
At the beginning [...]

Eddie Butcher (1900-80)
Born Aughill, Magilligan, Co Derry. Had a rich repertoire of songs, including some from his father and wife’s family.
Became widely known through broadcasts in the 1960s. Was an influence on Paul Brady, Andy Irvine, Frank Harte and Len Graham.
Discography
Adam in Paradise, Eddie Butcher. UFTM-ITMA 101
Shamrock, Rose and Thistle, Eddie Butcher (1982) EEOT.I
Once [...]

Irish Festival shows increase in numbers

Eddie Stack recalls St Stephen’s Day in Clare…

Anybody else notice the word “sport” creeping into the Irish dancing vocabulary? “Irish dance is a great sport,” declares one teaching academy which  boasts several North American Irish Dancing Champions among its achievements. About a tenth of such dancing schools drop the word casually on their websites. Elsewhere a dancer tells a forum “how superficial [...]

Broadcaster Ciaran Mac Mathuna’s contribution to Irish music was invaluable.

Carey Parks of Cape Coral plays Irish music on his own tin whistles …