If you are anywhere near Ireland this Northern hemisphere summer, there is absolutely no excuse for not learning to play, sing or dance. Festivals and summer schools are burgeoning, with most offering opportunities to learn Irish set dancing, Irish sean nós dancing and/ or to learn to play or master a range of traditional musical instruments, as well as a wide range of concerts, céilís and lectures. And, of course, there are the four provincial fleadhanna (flaa-na), festivals incorporating competitions for traditional musicians and dancers, with the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann being hosted by Ennis, Co.Clare in August this year.
This listing has now been updated for 2018.
There is a tangible increase in 2016 for opportunities to learn and compete at sean nós dancing, to attend singing classes and performances, and much more on offer specifically for children.
You can find your way around all 38 festivals listed here by either using the interactive map or by scrolling the date listing below, which also includes a brief description.
FESTIVAL LISTING BY DATE
(If you don’t see your festival here, please let me know)
JUNE 2016
Friday 10th – Sunday 12th June 2016
Craiceann International Bodhrán Summer School
Inis Oirr, Co.Galway (Aran Islands)
www.craiceann.com
Friday 10th – Sunday 12th June, 2016
Doolin Folk Festival
Doolin, Co.Clare
www.doolinfolkfestival.com
Sunday 12th June- Thursday 16th June 2016
Enniscrone Irish and Country Music Festival
Enniscrone, Co.Sligo
The 5 day festival brings together some of the best Country and Western stars under one roof in the Diamond Coast Hotel but the festival also gives the opportunity for people to take part in set dance workshops, ballroom and social dance workshops, music tutorials, sessions and with music and dance taking place till late in the night.
http://www.diamondcoast.ie/Irish_Trad_and_Country_Music_Festival.html
Sunday 12th-Sunday 19th June 2016
Galway Sessions
Galway city, Co.Galway
Dedicated this year to the memory of Éamonn Ceannt, there will be lectures, music, recitals and wide range of other events.
www.galwaysessions.com
Thursday 16th -Sunday 19th June 2016
Jim Dowling Uillean Pipe & Traditional Music Festival
Glengarriff, Co.Cork
www.jimdowlingfestival.com
Friday 17th June – Saturday 18th June 2016
All-Ireland Sean Nós Dance Festival
Athboy, Co Meath, Ireland
A summer sean nós festival with workshops, sessions, céilís and a competition with a top prize of €500.
http://www.discoverireland.ie/Whats-On/all-ireland-sean-nos-dancing-festival/511411
Monday 20th June – Friday 1st July 2016
BLÁS
Limerick, Co.Limerick
Intensive “deep dive” workshops and master classes for experienced singers, dancers and musicians with a focus on collaborative integration of understanding between the disciplines- a residential program at the University of Limerick.
www.blas.ie
Saturday 25th-Sunday 26th June 2016 & Saturday 2nd – Sunday 3rd July 2016
Fleadh Cheoil Chonnacht 2016
Strokestown, Co.Roscommon
Connacht Province Fleadh, which is primarily provincial competitions for traditional musicians, dancers & other artists, organised by the local Comhaltas Cheoltóirí Éireann (CCE).
http://www.connachtfleadh.ie/
Saturday 25th-Sunday 26th June 2016
Carlow Set Dance Weekend 2016
Weekend of set dancing workshops and céilís.
Carlow, Co. Carlow
JULY 2016
Saturday 2nd July- Saturday 9th July 2016
Willie Clancy Summer School
Miltown Malbay, Co.Clare
Affectionately known as Willie Week, this is probably the longest running of these festivals. There’s always a great buzz in Miltown: we call it Set Dancing Mecca! Classes for music and dance are run each morning from 10-1pm from Monday – Saturday, interspersed with a wide range of afternoon and evening set dancing céilís around the area, singing sessions & music sessions in pubs. Highly recommended for those who want full immersion, deep dive into Irish culture & craic.
http://www.scoilsamhraidhwillieclancy.com/
http://www.armadahotel.com/events.html/armada-festival-of-music-dancing-2016
Monday July 4th– Friday July 8th 2016
The Junior Davey Bodhrán Academy
Gorteen, Co Sligo
www.juniordaveybodhranacademy.com
Monday 4th July-Sunday 10th July 2016
Leinster Fleadh Cheoil 2016
Kilkenny, Co.Kilkenny
Leinster Province Fleadh, which is primarily provincial competitions for traditional musicians and dancers and other artists, organised by the local Comhaltas Cheoltóirí Éireann (CCE). http://www.leinsterfleadh.ie
Sunday 10th July- Saturday 16th July 2016
South Sligo Summer School
Tubbercurry, Co.Sligo
This has become my favorite festival for it’s laid back nature but also the learning to dance program is excellent. Different energy to Willie Clancy, it’s more intimate, gentler and very enjoyable in this beautiful part of Co.Sligo, with very deep music & dance tradition. Set dancing and music classes are in the morning 10am-1pm, a sean nós dance program in the afternoon from 4-6pm, and a range of concerts in the afternoons, and set dancing céilís in the evenings, with sessions in the pubs to follow.
http://www.sssschool.org/index.html
Monday 11th July– Friday 15th July 2016
Ceol na Coille Summer School of Irish Traditional Music
Letterkenny, Co.Donegal
www.ceolnacoille.ie
Monday 11th July– Friday 15th July 2016
Westport Scoil Cheoil 2016
Westport, Co.Mayo
Full summer school with tuition, concerts and recitals.
www.westportscoilcheoil.com
Monday 11th July- Friday 15th July 2016
Sean Nós ar an tSionnan Feet and Beat Summer Camp
Ballymote, Co Sligo
A week of dance training for children from 7 to 15 years.
http://edwinaguckian.com/dance-classes/
Friday 15th July – Sunday 17th July 2016
Danny Webster Weekend
Meenaneary, Co Donegal
Kilkenny’s master accordionist visits Donegal for a weekend of three céilís.
Friday 16th July -Sunday 25th July 2016
Ulster Fleadh 2016
Bangor, Co.Down
Ulster Province Fleadh, which is primarily provincial competitions for traditional musicians and dancers and other artists, organised by the local Comhaltas Cheoltóirí Éireann (CCE).
www.ulsterfleadh.com
Saturday 16th July – Sunday 17th July
Munster Fleadh 2016
Listowel,Co.Kerry
Muster Province Fleadh, which is primarily provincial competitions for traditional musicians and dancers and other artists, organised by the local Comhaltas Cheoltóirí Éireann (CCE).
www.munsterfleadh.ie
Saturday 16th July – Sunday 17th July
Céilí at the Crossroads Festival
Clarecastle,Co.Clare
Annual céilí at the Crossroads – an opportunity to dance outside!
www.clare.ie/event/ceili-at-the-cross-roads-festival-clarecastle/
Sunday 17th July – Saturday 24thJuly 2016
Joe Mooney Summer School
Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim
Drumshanbo is delightful – a similar format to South Sligo Summer School, the difference here is the focus is very much around the unusual main street, which has a pedestrian mezzanine above the lane of traffic, where you can sit out in the sun, dance, listen to music & enjoy the people going by and enjoy a number of excellent evening céilís.
www.JoeMooneySummerSchool.com
July 18th – 22nd, 2016
Meitheal Residential Summer School
Villiers School, Limerick City, Ireland
Residential Summer School for young traditional musicians.
www.tradweek.com
Monday 18th July – Friday 22nd July
Get in Step Summer Camp
Riverstown, Co Sligo
€60 for five classes sean nós and set dancing summer school for kids from 5 to 17 years from 10am–2pm daily
Eimear Mulvey (086) 258 4465
Friday 22nd July- Sunday 24th July
Kilrush Traditional Festival
Kilrush, Co Clare
Free outdoor céilís in the market square are the big attraction at this weekend organised by Kilrush Comhaltas
http://www.wildatlanticway.com/directory/details/kilrush-traditional-music-set-dancing-festival-2016/511986/#52.637223|-9.481393|14
Saturday 23rd July – Saturday 30th July 2016
Scoil Acla Summer School
Achill Island, Co.Mayo
Traditional Music Courses, Art Workshops, Sean Nós Singing, Writers Workshop, Dance Workshop, Sean Nós Dancing, Basket Weaving Workshops
www.scoilacla.com
Monday 25th July- Sunday 31 July 2016
Kilcar Fleadh
Kilcar, Co Donegal
A village on the wild Atlantic coast of Donegal hosts this week-long music and dance festival.
https://donegalgathering.com/july/kilcar-fleadh/
Monday 25th July – Sunday 31 July 2016
Summer Festival of Dance
Ballyfin, Co Laois
Maureen Culleton, one of Ireland’s best-known dance teachers organises this festival for the love of music, song and dance.
http://www.midlandsireland.ie/events/maureen-culleton-summer-school-and-festival-of-dance
Monday 25th July 2016
O’Carolan Summer School and Harp Festival
Keadue, Co Roscommon
The Irish composer Turlough O’Carolan is the inspiration for this summer school and festival in this gorgeous town.
http://www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie/
Monday July 25th- Friday 29th 2016
Liffey Trust Studios, 117-126 Upper Sheriff Street, Dublin 1
Rince 2016-Treblehop
Irish step dancing intensive tuition including solo technique, stage performance, céilí, show style and injury prevention.
http://www.treblehop.com/rince_2016
Friday July 29th – Sunday 31st July 2016
Ballyshannon Folk Festival
Ballyshannon, County Donegal
www.ballyshannonfolkfestival.com
Saturday 30th July 2016
James Morrison Traditional Music Festival
Riverstown, Co Sligo.
A full trad festival with open air céilís, concerts, sessions and more in the home village of a fiddler who became famous in the USA.
http://jamesmorrisonfestival.com/author/admin/
AUGUST 2016
Saturday 31st July – 7th August 2016
The Irish Dance Festival
Carlingford, Co.Louth
Spend a week learning from some of the world’s best Irish dance masters of three styles – step, set and sean nós – and connect with fellow lovers of Irish dance by immersing yourself in Irish culture and heritage.
www.irishdancefestival.com
Wednesday 3 August-Monday 8th August
Feakle International Festival of Traditional Music
Feakle, Co Clare
The big festival in the small village of Feakle runs for seven days from Wednesday to Monday with many concerts & sessions in addition to the dancing events shown here.
http://www.feaklefestival.ie
Monday 8 August – Friday 12 August
Get in Step Summer Camp
Kilcummin, Co,Kerry
Sean nós and set dancing summer school for kids from 5 to 17 years.
Adrian Moriarty (087) 933 0768
Monday 8 August- Friday 12 August 2016
Sean Nós ar an tSionann Feet and Beat Summer Camp
Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim
A week of dance training for children from 7 to 15 years.
http://edwinaguckian.com/dance-classes
Sunday 14th August- Monday 22 August 2016
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
Ennis, Co Clare
Nearly two weeks of fabulous music, dance and a wide range of concerts and other events celebrating Irish culture. Don’t miss it!
http://fleadhcheoil.ie
Wednesday 17 August – Sunday 21 August 2016
Masters of Tradition
Bantry, Cork
Celebrating traditional music in its’purest form through a series of concerts and performances, directed by Martin Hayes.
www.WestCorkMusic.ie/MastersOfTradition
Thursday 18th August- Sunday 21st August 2016
Coleman Traditional Festival
Gurteen, Co.Sligo
The Coleman Traditional Irish Music Centre is a celebration of Irish Music, Culture and Heritage as expressed in the South Sligo Style of music played by Michael Coleman and other musicians of his time.
This community based enterprise in Gurteen, Co.Sligo, Ireland is dedicated to ensuring that the tradition of Irish music remains a living one ‘an traidisiún beo’ and that it continues to be enjoyed by all ages and nationalities.
www.colemanirishmusic.com
Enjoy the craic!
Nora Stewart
Irish Bliss
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