Workshops

Now in its tenth year, Féile Frank McGann is delighted to announce a spectacular line up of Ireland’s best tutors in instrumentation song and dance, as well as a workshop in traditional flute maintenance/repair which proved extremely popular last year.

Pre-registration can be made by emailing info@feilefrankmcgann.ie, and this is particularly encouraged for the flute maintenance workshop.

Venues: Scoil Muire, Strokestown

Date/Time: Saturday 13th October 2012

10am Registration

10.30am-1pm
& 2pm-4pm Classes

Tutors for 2012 are:

Siobhan Peoples (Fiddle)

Siobhán Peoples is a fantastic fiddle player, and a highlight of a trip to Ennis for many a musical tourist has long been the chance to hear her play in a session around town. With the release of an album with accordion player Murty Ryan, Time On Our Hands, many more people have had the pleasure of hearing her play.
She is also a strong argument for a gene of musical talent that’s yet to be found on the DNA maps: her father, of course, is the legendary Tommy Peoples, and her grandmother on her mother’s side was Kitty Linnane, the piano player with the storied Kilfenora Ceili Band.

Although she hails from Clare, Siobhan Peoples is also steeped in a rich heritage of Donegal fiddling tradition. The precision and intricacy of her performance has made her one of our most sought-after fiddlers. She has carved a niche as an outstanding performer and teacher. Siobhan is a fiddle tutor on the BA Irish Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy.

Siobhan once described Frank McGann as “the Florence Nightingale of musicians”, because of his fatherly and caring approach towards musicians. Siobhan has attended many Feile Frank McGann weekends and we are delighted to welcome her back again to Strokestown for the 10 year celebrations.

Micheal O’Raghallaigh (Concertina)

The concertina master player and tutor is back to tutor again by popular demand.

Concertina maestro Micheál Ó Raghallaigh is no stranger to the world stage. As both a soloist and a member of traditional group ‘Providence’, he has performed in the U.S.A., as well as throughout Europe. He has also been part of two Céilí Bands who won the much coveted ‘three-in-a-row’ senior All-Ireland titles, namely ‘The Táin’ Céilí Band and more recently, The ‘Naomh Pádraig’ Céilí Band.

As one of the highest profile concertina players of his generation, Micheál has been engaged for events such as the ‘Catskills Irish Arts Festival’ in New York, workshops in Germany, ‘Tocane’ in France, the ‘Scoil Eigse’ as part of the All Ireland Fleadh, ‘Eigse Mrs.Crotty’ in Kilrush, Co Clare, Feile Frank McGann, Co Roscommon, as well as numerous third level institutes where the skills and expertise of such a performer are in great demand.

Following the unprecedented success of his debut album ‘The Nervous Man” in 2001, he surpassed all expectations with his second helping, “Inside Out”. They give us a glimpse of a musician totally at one with his craft. Micheal has recently released an outstanding album with his long-time friend Danny O’Mahony, entitled “As it Happened”.

He is extremely highly regarded among followers and players of traditional music. Micheal is always in demand as a tutor.

Sean Ryan (Whistle)

Sean is a Tipperary man now living in Co.Offaly. He has a unique and beautiful whistle style, and is one of the few masters of the instrument.

Sean has two great solo albums to his credit. Sean has toured the world both playing and teaching his craft.

Colm Gannon (Button Accordion)

Colm Gannon was born, in Dorchester, Boston, Massachussettes of Connemara parents. His father John, from Droim and his mother Gerry from Tuirin. He learned to play his music from his father and his brother Sean. Colm won the all Ireland in 1994 on the button accordion and then moved to Ennis, Co. Clare with fiddler Jesse Smith where he got to live and play with all the great musicians there.

After a couple of years there, Colm was asked to join “Riverdance the show” which he toured with for four years. Colm has toured the states with world-renowned Sligo based band “Dervish”. Colm also performed with Dolly Parton, in “Dollywood” with the show Ragus. Colm is now living back in his father’s home place, Droim, and is currently playing all over the country and the US promoting his new album with Jesse Smith and John Blake; “The Ewe with The Crooked Horn” after the great success of his solo album “Return to Droim”, which featured guest artists such as; John Carty on banjo, Jesse Smith on fiddle and John Blake on piano, guitar and bouzouki. Since then Colm has released a duet album, with his father John Gannon titled “Trasna Na dTonnta”, traditional music and songs from Connemara. On this recording Colm’s aunt, Maureen Creighan is featured singing two beautiful songs in gaelic. Sadly, Maureen is no longer with us but her singing is preserved for future generations to hear on this recording. The duet is accompanied by John Blake from London, on guitar and piano. Colm has also appeared as a guest musician on many albums and worked with artists like: singer, John Beag O’Flaharta, Mick Conneely, Seomsamh O’Neactain and Martin Meehan as well as many others. Colm appeared in the critically acclaimed movie, “The Guard“, starring award winning actor Brendan Gleeson and recorded the soundtrack with Gay McKeon, CEO of Na Píobairí Uilleann, Johnny McDonagh of DeDannan and Mary Corcoran. Colm has just finished a masters degree in Traditional Music Performance at the University of Limerick and has just released a new album titled “The Rights of Man”.

Mick O’Brien (Flute)

Mick O'Brien plays Uilleann Pipes, whistle and flute. He performs regularly as a solo artist, with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and with the Norwegian groups Vamp, Hanne Krogh, and Secret Garden.

He has recorded with many artists over the years. His first solo album 'The May Morning Dew' (1996) was received with great critical acclaim. Mick lives in Dublin where he is a schoolteacher.

Joe Skelton (Whistle)

Born and bred in County Galway, Joe is a multi instrumentalist - equally proficient on fiddle, flute, tin-whistle and banjo. He is a regular teacher at Summer Schools and always in demand for sessions and concerts.

Féile Frank McGann are delighted to welcome Joe to Strokestown as Flute Tutor. In a part of the world where flute is one of the main instruments, Joe will provide a valuable opportunity for students to enhance their skills with the assistance of his guiding hand.

Seamus O’Kane (Bodhrán)

Seamus is one of the most popular people in traditional music. Seamus is a Derry man. He has a great bodhrán style and rhythm, and is talented enough to make top quality bodhrán. He has played on many recordings including Marcas O'Murchu's and John Wynne's recent flute CD's.

Seamus began making in 1969 but was put on the right path by Peadar Mercier of the Chieftains who took time to teach him. He has been playing since 1969 and has made recordings on LP, cassettes, CD's, videos and TV programmes.

His heroes are Peadar Mercier, Ringo McDonagh and his good friend Gino Lupari. He was a member of Roguery the Irish folk band headed by Joe Diamond and Cliff McKenna, and has recorded on numerous traditional Irish music albums, and has been featured in several television documentaries. He plays in sessions a lot and has a great love of Irish and Scottish traditional singers.

Seamus made the last Bodhrán that Fran McGann purchased before he passed away. The Bodhrán was handed on by Frank to his son Brian and it has brought to every Féile since the first one in 2003. Seamus is a regular visitor to Féile Frank McGann and we are always delighted to see his warm smile. His students are always glad to have another opportunity to garner some more of his experience and skills.

Suzanne Leahy (Sean nós Dancing)

SEAN Nós is the oldest form of Irish dance and one of its proponents is Ennis based Limerick woman Suzanne Leahy. A native of Herbertstown, Suzanne has been living in Clarecastle for the past couple of years and says the sean nós style has seen something of a rebirth.

“In the last number of years it has revived and taken off. I did Irish dancing for most of my life and I really liked the sean nós after I started it. It’s about keeping in with the music and the tunes.

“I first learned it at Willie Clancy from Mick Mulkerrin and Maireád Casey”, Suzanne said. Sean nós is far less structured than other types of Irish dance, according to Suzanne. “It goes back before traditional step dancing. In different times, people would have been having a few tunes in the kitchen and at some point someone would take off the half door and tap out the tune.”

People taking part in sean nós dancing don’t need to learn steps in the same way as those taking part in other forms of Irish dance. “You don’t have to learn a lot of steps but you’d have to have good rhythm. Basically, it involves your own improvisation and dancing out a tune. Dancers tap out each note and there is no high kicking, it’s done low to the floor, in a small space.”

Suzanne performed step dancing with the Anthony Costello school of dancing in Limerick City and she was also a member of the Éire Óg set-dancing club in Grange, Limerick, where she taught children’s classes for a number of years. Suzanne is a Tutor at many festivals around the Country and Féile Frank McGann is delighted to welcome Suzanne, a regular visitor, back again this year.