Forty Years of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy

Forty Years of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy

Preparations are well under way for Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy 2012, this year celebrating its fortieth anniversary while at the same time marking the passing last year of its director, Muiris Ó Rócháin who will be remembered in a special tribute event hosted by Muireann Ní Dhuigneáin.

Preparations are well under way for Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy 2012, this year celebrating its fortieth year while at the same time marking the passing last year of its director, Muiris Ó Rócháin. Running from Saturday, 7 July, to Sunday, 15 in Milltown Malbay, Co Clare, events this year include a special tribute to Ó Rócháin in music, song, dance, storytelling and folklore presented by Muireann Ní Dhuigneáin.

The opening lecture on Saturday by Malcolm MacLean, Chairman of the Gaelic Arts Agency in Scotland, entitled ‘Changing Places: tradition, innovation and the Greater Gaidhealtachd’, will highlight the strong link with Gaelic Scotland that has been maintained for many years by the school; as will a concert by Scots Gaelic singers Mary Smith and Gregor Labhruidh. Other lectures during the week will be delivered by Harry Bradshaw, Pat Mitchell and James Keane.

RTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta will be hosting a concert to mark forty years of the school’s existence and of the station’s broadcasting from the festival.

The usual classes, workshops, and recitals (in harp, fiddle, whistle and flute, banjo, pipering, accordion, concertina, harmonica, singing, and dancing) will take place through the week, all building up towards the main concert on the Saturday night, and the annual Sunday morning mass with Cór Chúil Aodha, who have attended every year of the forty since the school first began in 1973.

More details to follow in the coming weeks.

Published on 16 February 2012

comments powered by Disqus