Traditional music enthusiasts from around the globe will be travelling to Letterkenny 9th – 13th July for the7th annual Ceol na Coille Traditional Music Summer School. Now well established as part of the summer 
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.
Ceol na Coille director Paul Harrigan, an All-Ireland winner on Uilleann Pipes and Piano Accordion, says it’s looking like another record-breaking year.
“This is our seventh year and it’s getting bigger and better every year,” he said. “We’re in the heart of Donegal, which is famous for its traditional music. We have a great team of tutors and we pride ourselves on being friendly and welcoming.”
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.
The Summer School is ever growing with this year seeing the addition of week long traditional singing workshops as well as “Taithí Gaeltachta”, an initiative squeezing the full Gaeltacht experience into daily classes and workshops with music, sport, drama and art. A family-friendly summer school Ceol na Coille also offers: Trad Camp for kids, “An Club Gaelach”, Improver classes and Irish Language classes for adults.
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 runs from Monday 9th to Friday 13th July 2017. It’s followed immediately this year by the big Folk and Roots weekend of the Earagail Arts Festival in Letterkenny and elsewhere in Donegal.
Bígí ann!
For more information see www.ceolnacoille.ie
@EaragailArts @whatsondonegal @WOLetterkenny @CulturalCentre