Posted: 06 May 2004
Straight From The Willie Clancy School, County Clare, Ireland To The Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and CraftsSt Ann’s, Cape Breton Island Comes Traidisiúin na hÉireann –Traditions of Ireland
The Willie Clancy School in County Clare, founded in 1973, draws more than 1500 students annually from all over the world to study and enjoy the music, language, history and culture of Ireland. It was founded as a tribute to the late Willie Clancy, a noted Uilleann piper, whistle and flute player, singer and story-teller. When our Board of Governors decided to develop a session during our Summer School to explore Irish Culture - a culture with close ties to Scottish culture- we were fortunate to have Muiris Ó Rócháin agree to arrange faculty and present this new session for us.
Muiris is co-founder of the Clancy School and hails originally from Dingle in County Kerry. He graduated from the University of Cork and taught in South Kerry, Dublin and in Miltown Malbay where he met Clancy. He has been the driving force behind the “Willie Week” school since its inception and continues to play a leading role in its growth. Muiris has the Gaelic and an affinity for the traditions of the Irish. Prominent tutors who will accompany Muiris from Ireland to present instruction include, among others:
Eamon McGivney who is an outstanding fiddle and accordion player with broad teaching experience. He has co-coordinated the fiddle classes at the Willy Clancy School for the past 16 years and has been selected as a fiddle player to represent Ireland at festivals in France, Germany, Italy, England, Holland and the USA.
Brid Donohue is considered to be one of Ireland’s finest whistle and flute player. She has won major competitions and is the senior tutor on the flute at the Willy Clancy School. She has performed in concert in Italy, England and France. She has a deep knowledge of Irish culture and is a fluent Irish speaker.
Harry Hughes is a historian with a deep interest in Irish history and culture. He is the Editor of Dal gCais, a prominent historical and literary journal. He has a particular interest in contemporary Irish history. He lectures extensively and uses slides and videos widely in his presentations.
Séamus Ó Rócháin, a Uilleann piper and whistle player is a tutor at the Willie Clancy School and at the Irish Pipers Headquarters in Dublin. He has also conducted piping workshops abroad in Belgium and Spain and has represented Ireland as a piper at venues in London, Venice, New York, Paris and Kosovo. He is a fluent Irish speaker.
Patrick O’Dea was born in London. His parents were Irish. He learned his dance from Joe O’Donovan, a brilliant old style dancer from Cork. Joe is considered the finest old style dancer in Ireland and is proud to claim Patrick as his finest pupil. Patrick is a wonderful teacher of the old style authentic Irish dance and has a comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of solo and group Irish traditional dance. He is a virtuoso dancer who has the wonderful gift of being able to breakdown and explain the steps of the most complex dance. In constant demand to give workshops in traditional dance world-wide, already in 2004 he has given workshops in France, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and in the USA. He is a senior tutor at the Willie Clancy School, which is the largest school worldwide for traditional Irish music and dance.
The Gaelic College, in its scenic setting on the Cabot Trail, provides both live-in and day students with relaxing, informal surrounds to receive instruction in any of the following disciplines:
Uillean pipes, Fiddle, Flute, Whistle,Irish Singing [in Gaelic and English], Traditional Irish Dance, Irish History and Folklore. Lecture subjects will include: The Irish Connection, Gaelic Ireland, The Famine, Irelands Independence, Contemporary Ireland and its Music.
A recital will be held each evening during the session with participation by both students and tutors.
Both youth and adults will be accepted for this session. For further information:
Phone: (902) 295-3411
Fax: (902) 295-2912
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