Traditional Irish music | A gem from the Emerald Isle

The South Sligo Summer School was founded here, in Tubbercurry, in 1987.
The aim of the school is to conserve and promote the traditions of music, song and dance for which the area is famous.
The school offers a full programme of classes, workshops, talks, ceilithe, recitals, and, of course, concerts like this.
The school is open to all ages but is best known for encouraging the young, many of whom become teachers as they get older.
Particular emphasis is placed on teaching the Sligo style of fiddle and flute playing.
So, come along with us as we give you a taste of the end concert of the 39th annual South Sligo Summer School.

Some facts about the instruments:-

(1) The Irish fiddle

The Irish fiddle is identical to the violin but is played differently.

(2) Celtic harp

The type seen in the concert is actually the neo-celtic harp derived from the type seen on Irish coins and Guinness. It is supposed to date back to the 6th century. Over the centuries the strings have been made from brass, horsehair and nylon amongst other materials.

(3) Irish banjo

The Irish banjo was introduced to traditional music in the mid 20th century. The four stringed banjo is of African origin, imported, by slaves, into the southern states of the USA, from where it found its way to Ireland.

(4) Tin whistle

Despite being almost exclusively made of metal, the tin whistle is classed as a woodwind instrument. It is of ancient origin and may even originate with the Neanderthal peoples of around 81000 BCE.

(5) The bodhrán

The bodhrán is a frame drum developed in the mid 19th century or possibly earlier, even ancient. It can be played with the bare hand or, more commonly, by using a beater, also called a bone, tipper, stick or cipín.

(6) Concertinas and accordions

These didn’t reach Ireland until the latter half of the 19th century.

(7) Irish pipes

Irish pipes were developed in the mid 18th to early 19th century. Known as Uilleann (pronounced Ulin) pipes they are inflated using a bellows strapped to the waist and arm of the player. The name Uilleann is derived from the Irish meaning ‘pipes of the elbow’. Unlike Scottish traditional pipes, Irish pipes have keys on three regulator pipes. These regulator pipes remain silent until the player presses a key with either the wrist or hand.

Irish dancing

Irish dancing may be step dance, as seen in Riverdance, where the upper body and arms are held rigid, although many dancers now allow their arms to move in a more informal, relaxed style as demonstrated by the young lady in our video.

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This is Mr and Mrs Old Hiking Geezer saying goodbye

and

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

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