The 51st Willie Clancy Summer School will take place in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, from Saturday 1 July to Sunday 9 July and features classes, concerts, lectures, céilís and more. 

Online registration is now open and the cost for a full week of tuition is €150, which includes all classes, workshops, lectures and evening recitals.

Tuition is available in traditional singing, banjo, accordion, concertina, fiddle, flute, harmonica, harp, dance, whistle, and uilleann pipes, but piping students should register with Na Píobairí Uilleann.

For the full programme, see below:

51st Willie Clancy Summer School: Calendar of Events

Dé Sathairn 1ú Iúil - Saturday 1st July
3 pm to 6 pm - Information exchange: students meet staff at the Community Centre, Miltown Malbay.

8.00 pm - Oscailt Oifigiúil/Official Opening by Charlie Harris, renowned accordion player and TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award winner.

8.30 pm - Breandán Breathnach Memorial Lecture: Against Christianity, learning and the spirit of nationality’ - Jazz and Irish Traditional Music in the early twentieth century. Presented by Conor Caldwell, fiddle player and lecturer in Irish Traditional Music at the University of Limerick.
Venue: Community Centre for both events.

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí at The Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds - Brian Ború Céilí Band​

Dé Domhnaigh 2ú Iúil - Sunday 2nd July

12.15 pm - Aifreann i nGaeilge/Mass in Irish at St. Joseph’s Church, Miltown Malbay.

3.00 pm - Musical Tribute at Willie Clancy’s Grave, Ballard Road.

5 pm to 7.30 pm - Information exchange: students meet staff at the Community Centre, Miltown Malbay.

8.00 pm - Céiliúradh Ceoil á chraoladh beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and featuring TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award Winners. Venue: Community Centre.

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí at The Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds - céilí band to be announced

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí at the Quilty Tavern- céilí band to be announced 

Dé Luain 3ú Iúil - Monday 3rd July

9.00 am - Assembly at the various class venues.

10 am to 1 pm - Classes and Workshops (see location details on information page).

2 pm to 3 pm - Classes in spoken Irish and Scots Gaelic.

3.00 pm - Lecture: Irish Traditional Musicians in Chicago 1920-2020. 
Presented by Richie Piggott, researcher and collector.

5 pm to 7 pm - Harp Recital. Venue: Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds.

8.00 pm - Fiddle Recital. Venue: Community Centre. 

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí with the Kilfenora Céilí Band at The Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds 

Dé Máirt 4ú Iúil - Tuesday 4th July

10 am to 1 pm - Classes and Workshops

2 pm to 3 pm - Classes in spoken Irish and Scots Gaelic

3.00 pm - Tribute to Mary Bergin, tin whistle player. More details to follow.
Venue: Community Centre.

5.30 pm - Ceolchoirm Idirnáisiúnta/International Concert featuring  traditional music, song and dance from Scotland, Wales and Brittany. Venue: Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds.

8.00 pm - Whistle and Flute Recital. Venue: Community Centre. 

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí with the Tulla Céilí Band at The Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds 

Dé Céadaoin 5ú Iúil - Wednesday 5th July

10 am to 1 pm - Classes and Workshops

2 pm to 3 pm - Classes in spoken Irish and Scots Gaelic.

3.00 pm - Lecture: Garech Browne, Willie Clancy and Claddagh Records.
Presented by James Morrissey, Chairman, Claddagh Records.
Venue: Community Centre.

5 pm to 7 pm - Banjo Recital. Venue: Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds.

8.00 pm - Uilleann Piping Recital. Venue: Community Centre. 

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí with the Kilfenora Céilí Band at The Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds

Déardaoin 6ú Iúil - Thursday 6th July

10 am to 1 pm - Classes and Workshops

2 pm to 3 pm - Classes in spoken Irish and Scots Gaelic.

2.30 pm - Lecture: Restitution: the revival of Scotland’s bellows blown pipes and its wider cultural significance. Presented by Hamish Moore, piper, pipes maker and researcher.
Venue: Community Centre.

4.30 pm - Button Accordion Recital. Venue: Community Centre.

8.00 pm - Old Style Step, Sean-nós and Set-Dancing Recital. Venue: Community Centre

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí with the Tulla Céilí Band at the Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds

Dé hAoine 7ú Iúil - Friday 7th July

10 am to 1 pm - Classes and Workshops

2 pm to 3 pm - Classes in spoken Irish and Scots Gaelic.

3.00 pm - An afternoon of Traditional Singing in Irish and English. Venue: Community Centre.

5 pm to 7 pm - Harmonica Recital. Venue: Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds.

8.00 pm - Concertina Recital. Venue: Community Centre.

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí at The Mill Marquee, GAA Grounds - Four Courts Céilí Band

9.30 pm to 1 am - Céilí at the Quilty Tavern - The Abbey Trio

Dé Sathairn 8ú Iúil - Saturday 8th July

10 am to 1 pm - Classes and Workshops

2 pm to 3 pm - Classes in spoken Irish and Scots Gaelic.

2.30 pm - Remembering Willie Clancy: Reflections on his life and legacy. This presentation will feature people who knew him and musicians who were influenced by his music. Presented by Peter Browne, piper and former producer / presenter with RTé Radio.
Venue: Community Centre.

7 pm to 10.30 pm - CEOLCHOIRM CHUIMHNEACHÁIN MUIRIS Ó RÓCHÁIN  Muiris Ó Rócháin Memorial Concert Láithreoir / presenter: Muireann Ní Dhuigneáin.
Venue: Community Centre.

Dé Domhnaigh 9ú Iúil - Sunday 9th July

12.15 pm - Aifreann i nGaeilge le Cór Chúil Aodha (Seán Ó Riada Mass with Coolea Choir) at St. Joseph’s Church, Miltown Malbay.

For full details on all events and to register, visit www.scoilsamhraidhwillieclancy.com