This year, further to workshops in Irish Traditional Music, Ceol na Coille Summer School is offering a unique opportunity for 10-13 year olds to experience all the fun of the Gaeltacht on their own doorstep.
“Tá Bliain na Gaeilge á céilúradh i 2018 agus tá sé spesialta dúinn gur féidir linn an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar seo inár gclár i mbliana. The Irish language has always been central to Ceol na coille but even more so this year as we celebrate Bliain na Gaeilge nationally.” explains Úna Ní Bhriain who is coordinating Irish language activities at this year’s summer school.
“The Taithí Gaeltachta or Gaeltacht Experience offers morning classes in the Irish language, coupled with a host of other fun activities through the medium of Irish will ensure that this group of young people will be ‘Gaeltacht Ready’ when their time comes to reside for three weeks with the ‘bean a’ tí’ in their chosen Gaeltacht course. It will really boost the participants’ confidence in speaking Irish and is a great opportunity to enjoy the language with young people who are the same age and who share some of the same interests. We are delighted to be able to have it as part of our program this year with support from Foras na Gaeilge and Líonra Leitir Ceanainn.”
Music, sport and art are only a few of the activities that will be included throughout the week. A fun, friendly staff will be supervising and teaching the group.
The group will participate in many team activities so that they can get to know each other and build long-lasting friendships. Of particular interest is a media workshop which will be facilitated by Letterkenny’s Caoimhe Ní Chathail who works in the Irish language media, for Meon Eile, TG4 and Raidió Fáilte.
“Caoimhe is a past pupil of Coláiste Ailigh, where all the week’s activities will take place, so this will be a homecoming of sorts for her. Using i-Pads provided, the workshop will centre around blogging and tweeting as Gaeilge, as well as looking at how to use camera when filming. Caoimhe is a real pro and full of energy and I’m certain this will be a high point of week’s activities.”
Ceol na Coille’s Summer school offers a host of Irish language opportunities, including adult comhrá classes and Club Gaelach for 6-9 year olds.
Bookings now being taken for all courses and classes. For more information visit www.ceolnacoille.ie
scene along the Wild Atlantic Way, this years summer school will welcome visitors from Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austrialia and USA. And its not only music lovers that will be jetting in for this July, as this year joining the team of tutors are internationally acclaimed artists Catriona McKay – Harp, Jarlath Henderson – Uilleann Pipes and Hamish Napier – Piano. Based at Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ceol na Coille has quickly become one of the ‘must-visit’ weeks of traditional music in the calendar year and its reputation has continued to grow.
Visitors will learn from the highest calibre of tutors in stunning surroundings. A harmonious mix of local and visiting tutors offer classes on a wide range of instruments and at several levels. The long list of tutors also includes many familiar names such as Roisin McGrory & Clodagh Warnock – fiddle, Michael Carey, Kate McKinley Forde – Whistle, Joleen McLaughlin – Harp, Donna Harkin and Edel McLaughlin – Accordion and John Lee – Flute. This year will see visiting tutors – Deirdre Scanlan – Traditional Singing, Padraig McGovern – Uilleann Pipes, Bríd Harper & Paul O’Shaughnessy – fiddle, Tony O’Connell and Niall Hackett – Concertina, Conor Moriarty – Button Accordion, Dale McKay – Bodhrán and Paul Meehan – Guitar.
For teachers, there’s a weeklong CPD course approved by the Department of Education and Skills, delivered by Dr Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain of the University of Limerick. In addition, there are daily recitals, a series of inspiring concerts and thrilling nightly sessions & Festival Club making Ceol na Coille an outstanding week of traditional music, song and Gaeilge.
Ceol na Coille Summer School 9-13 July, is again offering our CPD course for teachers. The course is DES approved and participants can take part in classes on a wide range of instruments and also Traditional Singing over the week. Morning sessions consist of the instrumental and singing instruction with the afternoon session taking the form of workshop/Lecture, delivered by Dr. Orfhliath Ní Bhriain – University of Limerick – followed by daily recitals by some of our fantastic line up of Tutors. A music filled week of classes, workshops, recitals, concerts, sessions and festival Club. More details can be found on the website 
Another exciting launch at this years Ceol na Coille Summer School 9-13 July ‘Jigs to Jacobites – 4000 years of Irish History told through 40 Traditional Set Dances’ This new publication from Dr Orfhliath Ní Bhriain – University of Limerick – and Mick McCabe, will be of interest to musicians and dance teachers alike. The launch will take place in Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny on Wednesday 11th July at 3.30pm. All recitals, launches and Festival Club – House Wine bar and Tap Room – are free and open to public. information at 
Séamus McGuire and John Lee will be launching their highly acclaimed new album ‘The Legacy of Stephen Grier’ at this years Ceol na Coille Summer School 9-13 July. The Launch will take place at 3.30pm on Tuesday 10th July in Coláiste Ailigh. The daily recitals and launches are free and open to the public. More info on Ceol na Coille Summer School at 