A special documentary screening on Sunday, 28th January, 15:30 at the Irish Film Institute (IFI) as part of Temple Bar TradFest 2024.
Seán Keane (1946-2023) earned world renown as a pivotal member of The Chieftains, the group he joined in 1968 after coming to prominence with Ceoltóirí Chualann and the Castle Céilí Band earlier in the decade. His powerful fiddle playing married technical virtuosity with insight and a deep understanding of what made Irish traditional music distinctively beautiful.
In this documentary profile, Seán recalls a range of musical influences from early days listening to James Morrisson and Frank O’Higgins on a wind-up gramophone and his great admiration for the musical and managerial skills of Paddy Moloney. Seán’s talents are extolled by fellow traditional musicians Paddy Glackin, Mick O’Connor, Liam O’Connor, Matt Molloy and Doireann Ní Ghlacáin who speaks of the “overwhelming feeling of joy” which his music creates.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Dermot O’Hanlon and producer Seán Potts.
8 December, Dublin | Royal Irish Academy of Music: https://www.riam.ie/whats-on/drawing-from-the-well-tour
9 December, Miltown Malbay | The Westbridge: Tickets to be sold at the door
10 December, Listowel | St. John’s Theatre: https://stjohnstheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173649735
15 December, Carrick-On-Shannon | The Dock Arts Centre: https://www.thedock.ie/whats-on/drawing-from-the-well
16 December, Cork | Devere Hall, UCC: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/drawing-from-the-well-2023-concert-tour-devere-hall-ucc-cork-tickets-758837602697?aff=oddtdtcreator
17 December, Bray | Mermaid Arts Centre: https://www.mermaidartscentre.ie/whats-on/events/drawing-from-the-well
ITMA presents an evening of traditional music, song and dance in the company of four of Ireland’s leading contemporary traditional artists: Andrea Palandri (fiddle), Pádraic Keane (uilleann pipes), Síle Denvir (harp & song) and Caitlín Nic Gabhann (concertina & dance). These artists have engaged with ITMA’s artistic programmes, including its flagship series Drawing from the Well, an initiative which connects artists with archival materials to inspire new art.
The Drawing from the Well 2023 Concert Tour will visit venues across Ireland including Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, 8 December; The Westbridge, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, 9 December; St. John’s Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 10 December; The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, 15 December; Devere Hall, UCC, Co. Cork, 16 December and Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow, 17 December.
ITMA is delighted to once again open its doors to Culture Night visitors for a night of live traditional music and song in the splendour of our Georgian Reading Room.
In a series of six 30-minute concerts beginning at 5:30 pm, audiences will enjoy rousing sets of jigs and reels, plaintive slow airs, ballads and ditties presented by invited guests and staff musicians and singers.
For the comfort and safety of all who attend, these events will be seated, bookable in advance, with limited ‘walk up’ spaces available on the night.
The concerts take place in the first floor Georgian Reading Room and are accessible only by a flight of stairs.
Concert times, Friday 22 September 2023
ITMA Concert #1, 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm BOOK NOW
ITMA Concert #2, 6:15 pm – 6:45 pm BOOK NOW
ITMA Concert #3, 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm BOOK NOW
ITMA Concert #4, 7:45 pm – 8:15 pm BOOK NOW
ITMA Concert #5, 8:30 pm – 9:00 pm BOOK NOW
ITMA Concert #6, 9:15 pm – 9:45 pm BOOK NOW
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ITMA, in association with the National Concert Hall, present Drawing from the Well: Tommy Peoples, the fourth concert in ITMA’s Drawing from the Well series.
Saturday, 28 October 2023, 8pm
The fourth concert in the Irish Traditional Music Archive’s acclaimed Drawing From The Well series, devised by ITMA and presented in association with the National Concert Hall, once again assembles many of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians, singers and dancers to the National Concert Hall stage on October 28 at 8pm.
The artists involved, led by Tommy’s daughter Siobhán Peoples, include original Bothy Band members Matt Molloy, Donal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Paddy Keenan and the renowned Paul Brady — all who connected with and drew inspiration from the great Donegal fiddle player.
The concert will include the spoken word from acclaimed Cork poet and writer Theo Dorgan and outstanding sean-nós dancer Seosamh Ó Neachtain.
Among the special line-up are several other distinguished traditional artists who drew inspiration from Tommy Peoples including the great Donegal fiddle player Bríd Harper, wonderful singer Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill who will perform with sister Tríona, young emerging talented fiddle players Megan Nic Fhionnghaile, Sínead McKenna and Nia Byrne along with uilleann piper Seán Potts, who recorded with Tommy on his celebrated album Waiting for a Call.
Speaking about the fourth concert in the Drawing from the Well series ITMA Director Liam O’Connor said: “Tommy Peoples holds a very special place in Irish traditional music. An outstanding fiddle player and composer, his unique style and sensitive artistry inspired generations of musicians. We are honoured in ITMA, in association with our partners in the National Concert Hall, to be able to celebrate Tommy’s legacy on October 28th, not only by assembling wonderful musicians, singers and dancers connected with Tommy but also to launch our new website which will give the public unfettered access to an incredible collection of Tommy’s recordings and associated material.”
Robert Read, CEO,The National Concert Hall commented: “We are very pleased to collaborate with ITMA in presenting the fourth concert in the ‘Drawing from the Well’ series, which celebrates the life and music of Tommy Peoples. This special performance sees legendary artists and young performers come together to pay tribute to one of our greatest fiddlers, who continues to inspire new generations of musicians. We are delighted to once again partner with ITMA to support, nurture and honour Ireland’s rich musical culture and heritage”.
ITMA will host a series of engaging and fun in-person lunchtime workshops each day from 12.00 pm – 12.30 pm during Heritage Week 2023. These workshops will be hosted in ITMA’s Georgian Special Collections room. The focus of these workshops will be to showcase ITMA’s reel-to-reel playback machine and how it works.
Participants will be given an in-depth demonstration of how to use the machine as well as an overview of the digitisation process. There will be an opportunity for participants to gain hands-on experience threading the machine and playing back a vintage reel-to-reel tape recording.
ITMA was delighted to hear in April 2023 that it had been awarded a Community Heritage Grant from the Heritage Council for its project “Jigs and Audio Reels: Preserving Ireland’s Cultural Heritage through Audio Digitisation.” This funding has enabled ITMA to purchase a state-of-the-art reel-to-reel machine. This will allow the playback & digitisation of 1,000s of open reel recordings in ITMA.
ITMA’s event is being run as part of Heritage Week 2023. This year’s Heritage Week theme invites you to explore the traditions and practices, knowledge and skills passed down through generations. Heritage Week 2023 takes place 12 – 20 August 2023 check out full details here.
