The South Sligo Summer School was founded in 1987 in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo to conserve and promote the rich tradition of music, song and dance of the area. With a full programme of classes, workshops, céilithe, concerts, recitals and talks, there is special emphasis on the old Sligo traditional style of playing whilst also including a range of instruments from uilleann pipes to bodhrán as well as embracing new ideas and giving a platform to young emerging local musicians, many of whom are former pupils of the summer school, to share their talents with our visitors of all ages from near and far.
There are so many different facets to this wonderful festival including;
Workshops:
Workshops are available on all traditional instruments from world class teachers. All abilities are catered for and you will have great craic as you go too.
Concerts and recitals:
Our 2025 series of Concerts and Recitals will be held nightly at 8 pm in ‘The May Queen’ Tubbercurry from Monday 14th through to Friday 18th July.
We are delighted to announce that this year’s Monday night concert is a Tribute to mother and daughter, Bernie and Holly Geraghty, who have been long time contributors to the success of the South Sligo Summer School. They will be joined on stage by fellow tutors, family and musician friends and a great night’s musical celebration is in store. From Ballindine, Co. Mayo, Bernie has taught countless students throughout the region and is highly respected as both a music teacher and session musician. Holly now lives in Galway and has been the backbone of our harp classes at the summer school for many years.
The recitals throughout the week will feature an eclectic mix of tutors, students, local and visiting musicians with the Friday Night Concert highlighting our tutors and friends as well as our local stalwarts of the tradition. Each year the large and appreciative audiences are treated to a feast of the very best of traditional Irish music, song and dance over the five nights. The images below give a small flavour of the atmosphere from last summer’s series of concerts and recitals.
Lectures:
This year we are delighted to have Na Píobairí Uilleann included in our programming.
The full programme of afternoon events for 2025 has now been announced. Each Presentation will take place at 2.30 pm in St. Brigid’s Hall, as follows:
- Monday, 14th July: ‘Raised steeped in Music & Song in Kilmactogue at the foot of the Ox Mountains’ ~ Colm & Siobhan O’Donnell
- Tuesday, 15th July: ‘Regional Fiddle Styles in Ireland: Part of our Identity but are we in danger of overseeing their demise?’ ~ Manus McGuire
- Wednesday, 16th July: ‘My Brother’s Keeper – Reflections on Jim Coleman, brother of famous fiddle player Michael’ ~ Gregory Daly
- Thursday, 17th July: ‘The Development of the Uilleann Pipes’, followed by ‘Try the Pipes’, an Uilleann Pipes taster Session open to all ~ Emmett Gill, Archivist & Deputy CEO, Na Piobairi Uilleann
- Friday, 18th July: ‘Killavil & Bunnanadden – Fiddle & Flute – Musical Memories’ ~ Declan Folan & Fr. James McDonagh
Céilis:
Our 2025 programme of céilithe at St Brigid’s Hall will feature a stellar line up of céilí bands for seven nights straight. With calling by our set dance tutor, Pat Murphy, we can all look forward to a mighty week of dancing, thanks to the wonderful music of Swallows Tail, Matt Cunningham, Dartry, Innisfree, Donie Nolan & Taylor’s Cross & the Glenside Céili Bands and new to our programme of céilithe for 2025, the award winning Piper’s Cross Céilí Band from neighbouring Mayo. Please scroll down for links to each of our nightly céilithe for 2025.
You can see the full 2025 programme here.
Tubbercurry:
Tubbercurry is the second-largest town in terms of both population and land area in County Sligo, Ireland. It lies at the foot of the Ox Mountains, on the N17 national primary road. Tubbercurry is a fifteen minute drive from Ireland West International Airport with daily flights from several destinations in the UK, including London Heathrow, as well as regular flights from many destinations across mainland Europe. The nearest railway station in Ballymote, on the Dublin – Sligo line, is a twenty minute drive from Tubbercurry. The Sligo – Derry Bus Eireann Expressway route stops ion Tubbercurry several times a day and we are also serviced by the Feda O’Donnell Galway – Donegal bus route.
Visitors to Tubbercurry and South Sligo can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities while visiting our area, with lots of walks, including the Tubbercurry Forest Trail, on our doorstep as well as a nine hole golf course within easy walking distance of the centre of town. Be sure to call into Tubbercurry Community Library and the Tourist Office, both on Humbert Street, during your visit to Tubbercurry where you can get lots more information and ideas for places to see and things to do – that’s if you can squeeze any more into your packed week of tradtional music, song and dance!
