Decade of Centenaries Programme 2020-23
Shannon Waters Flow Songs, Stories & Cultural Change in 1920s Leitrim The Shannon has always carried more than water. It carried people, memory, music and ideas — flowing outwards from Leitrim to the wider world and back again. Shannon Waters Flow brings together songs, stories, people and moments from a […]
Memory, conflict and the songs that carried the people through In the spring of 1921, County Leitrim — often remembered as a quiet border county — found itself drawn directly into the final, most intense phase of the Irish War of Independence. Two events in particular, the Sheemore Ambush and […]
Northern Bank Mohill thought to be around 1905. Picture – National Library Ireland Sweet Mohill for Me “Through famed County Leitrim, I’ve travelled for sights / Its valleys so deep and its great mountain heights / No spot in the county, my longings could win / Like the fair town […]
“Cork-born William Forde (1797–1850) devoted his life to music as a musician, editor, collector and scholar. A flute and piano player, he spent time in both London and Cork, his wide-ranging musical interests focusing during the 1840s on Ireland. He joined the circle of other Irish antiquarian scholars such as […]
From Kiltyclogher, the Lennon family need no introduction. They are renowned the world over for their contribution to traditional music through compositions, performances, teaching and mentoring. Ben “The eldest of fours sons, Ben Lennon was born in the village of Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim in 1928. There was music on both […]
Michael McNamara from Carrickavoher, Aughavas is a well-known name in traditional music circles. Having being influenced from when he was a child by local musicians, such as John Blessing, Michael has played a massive role in preserving and promoting traditional music and in particular, music from his own part of […]
“O’Byrne-DeWitt seemed to embody the values of both old Ireland and modern America. She was socially modest and financially successful, and she applied her enterprise skills and vision to capture and preserve a version of Irish culture. Her achievements ensured that Irish music was taken seriously in the early 1900s. […]
Fleadh in Mohill – Pee Fitzpatrick on fiddle Picture courtesy of Val Fitzpatrick Mullingar – where it all began! It happened, that in January 1951, representatives of the Thomas Street (Dublin) Pipers’ Club went to Mullingar for a meeting with traditional music enthusiasts from County Westmeath, i.e. Cáit Uí Mhuimhneacháin, […]
Ó Máille, Tomás (1880–1938), an Irish scholar and professor of Irish at University College Galway , was born 30 March 1880 in Muintir Eoin near Leenaun, Co. Galway. He was the first professor of Irish at University College Galway from 1909 until his death in 1938 Find out more Ó […]
John McKenna is regarded as one of the most influential flute players of the 20th century. Born in a small cottage in the townland of Tents, Tarmon near Drumkeerin in 1880, McKenna emigrated to New York and became a prolific recording artist during the 1920s and 30s. These 78 recordings […]
