The current healthy state of Irish traditional music, song and dance is a far cry from the 1950s and 1960s when, outside the west of Ireland, there was very little interest in these art forms. But all has changed and they have never been more popular. Certainly that's true in the western capital, Galway, which in addition to having its own rich musical tradition, including Connemara's unique sean nos style of singing and dancing, has long been home to musicians from all over the west.
But despite this rich heritage, Galway does not have an archive of music from the west of Ireland. As a result, students have to travel outside the area if they need to carry out research.
That is about to change with the establishment of a new school of traditional Irish music in Galway city. This project is spearheaded by Clare-born musician, Mick Crehan, a nephew of the famous Junior Crehan, who died recently. Mick says the school is being set up in response to a growing demand for education in traditional music, song and dance both among Irish people and visitors. Many individual musicians in Galway already offer quality tuition to pupils, says Mr Crehan, but people who are interested in Irish music don't have a centre which meets all their needs from research to recording that is the long-term aim of this project. "We wanted to serve both as a teaching centre and as a base for the research, collection and transmission of the music and associated folklore and history."
The school opens on September 14th in the Presentation School in Galway. Teachers at the school come from Mayo, Roscommon, Belfast, Clare and Dublin and represent some of the diverse styles that exist within traditional music.
In the longer term, an archive of music and related material will be established. There are also plans to establish a recording unit.
Demands for the school's teaching services have been steady since the venture was launched earlier in summer, but places are still available. For more information, telephone 091-562099.
And on matters musical, the Limerick-based Irish Chamber Orchestra is shortly to begin a nationwide tour. The tour programme will feature a new piece for string orchestra and spoken voice called Hum! by Irish composer, Siobhan Cleary.
The ICO's tour will begin on Inishbofin on September 17th, travelling to Westport's Trinity Church on Friday, 18th, and Sligo's Hawkswell Theatre on Saturday, 19th. Further details are available from 061-202620.