Achill Island comes alive for
music and dance summer school



Connaught Telegraph

11 June 1997


Scoil Acla returns this August for a summer school of music, lectures, writers workshops, set dance workshops, music courses, painting and exhibitions.

Established in Dooagh, Achill around 1910, the summer school aimed to promote piping, song, music, dance and culture. Since its revival in 1985 the school has continued these objectives and included seminars, poetry, drama, historical and archaeological features of the locality and the arts in general.

This year's school will be taking place from August 4 to 16 and the theme "The Founding Fathers" has been adopted for the fortnight.

Soil Acla 1997 will be officially opened by Cathal Goan, Chief Executive of Teilifís na Gaeilge.

Music classes with some of Ireland's most talented musicians remain at the heart of Scoil Acla. Mary Greevey makes a return to teach the fiddle, Liam O'Flynn will attend for the Uileann Pipe class and pipe reed maker Donnacha Keegan is an addition this year.

Classes in the traditional music course running from August 4 to 16 will be held daily from 10 am to 1pm Registration is on Sunday August 3 in Dooagh N.S. from 1 - 3 pm and on the following day at 9 am The course fee is £40, to be paid when registered.

Tutors in a variety of instruments include:

P.J. Hernon, Tom Doherty, Catherine McNamara and Orla Calvey (accordion), Sheila Sammon (banjo), Paul McGratten, Hammy Hamilton and Colm O'Donnell (concert flute), Yvonne Griffin (concertina), Paddy Ryan, Mary Greevey, Diarmuid Gielty, Ross Lynchehaun and Elaine McNeill (fiddle), Aine Heneghan (harp), Des Cafferkey, Tony Patten, John McNamara, Eoin McNamara, Kevin Gielty and Rory McGinty (tin whistle), Kieran O'Malley, Robbie Hannan and Liam O'Flynn (Uileann pipes), and Donnacha Keegan (reed making).

Cathal Goan is guest speaker at the official opening. This year's theme "The Founding Fathers" will later be addressed by speakers including Íosold Ní Dheirg, Tomás Mac Sheáin and Pádraig Ó Raghallaigh.

Other highlights include poetry readings with acclaimed Irish poets Paul Durcan and John F. Deane, a drawing class with Achill-based artist Tommy Murphy and the Hata Acla family competition in music, song and dance as well as workshops in set dancing and writing.

"Hata Acla" commemorates an old Achill custom - in olden days not everyone had a hat to wear and in order that an Achill man would not feel out of place when going to town, a community hat was hung on a post at the Sound for these occasions. This family competition which includes Irish music, song and dance is a way of remembering this tradition. The entry is £10 per family and enquiries can be made to + 353 (0)98 47234.

Achill Island will also come alive at night with traditional ceilis and Irish music sessions in local pubs and hotels. Traditional sessions will be held in places such as Ted Lavelles, Cashel, The Clew Bay, Dooagh, The Strand Hotel, Dugort, The Atlantic Hotel and The Wavecrest Hotel, both in Dooagh, and many more locations.

A brochure outlining various classes and activities for day and night has been produced by the Scoil Acla committee. For further information contact the following:






Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - June 1997