Workshops

Workshops & Master Classes

Bookings will open early September 2023.

Classes and Master Classes for 2023 will be confirmed shortly.

Harp Master Class with Michael Rooney

Saturday 15th October 2022, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Foxford National School, €20 - Booking Form Below

MICHAEL ROONEY
Michael Rooney grew up in Scotstown, Co. Monaghan and now lives in Sligo where he has become part of the musical and cultural bedrock of the region. He is recognised as one of the most influential and innovative stylists on the harp, and his virtuosic technique as well as his approach to rhythm and harmony have helped to reposition it as a popular and integral part of the living tradition. He is also established as a significant composer of music for small and large-scale ensembles & orchestras. He was announced as the TG4 Composer of the Year 2017.

This class is open to proficient musicians, who are well able to play reels and jigs by ear.
Places in this Master Class are limited and booking is essential.

Master Class takes place on Saturday 15th Oct from 2:30pm - 4:30pm in Foxford National School. €20.

Performance Master Classes

The Master Class focuses on advanced players only and is open to all instruments.
Below are clips from a previous Performance Master Classes

Performance Master Class with Ryan Molloy

**SOLD OUT**
Age Over 15
Sat 15th Oct 2022, 2:30pm - 5:30pm,
Foxford National School, €20 plus booking fee

The two hour workshop led by Multi-instrumentalist, Stephen Doherty will guide participants through all aspects of group and stage performance with a focus on arrangement, technique, composition etc. The mixed instrument Masterclass will focus on advanced players only and is open to all instruments. This clip was recorded during the 2018 Performance Master Class.

Performance Master Class with David Doocey

**SOLD OUT**
Age 12 - 15
Sat 20th Oct 2021, 2:30pm - 5:30pm,
Foxford National School, €15

Here Multi-instrumentalist, David Doocey will guide participants through all aspects of group and stage performance with a focus on arrangement, technique, composition etc. The mixed instrument Masterclass will focus on advanced players only and is open to all instruments. This clip was recorded during the 2019 Performance master class.

Concertina - Aileen Bourke

**SOLD OUT**
Sat 15th Oct 2022, 10am - 1pm,
Foxford National School, €15

Senior All-Ireland Champion Concertina player, Aileen Bourke is a graduate from the Irish Music and Dance course at the University of Limerick where she obtained a first class honors degree.

In recent years she has played extensively throughout Ireland, the UK and America.
Aileen took home All-Ireland fleadh medals for 5 consecutive years and was fortunate enough to become the senior concertina all Ireland champion at the 2019 Fleadh Ceoil in Drogheda.

Accordion - Tom Doherty

Sat 15th Oct 2022, 10am - 1pm,
Foxford National School, €15

Tom Doherty comes from a musical family in Foxford. He started to learn the accordion from Martin Donoghue when he was four years old. Tom won his first All-Ireland on the concertina. He also has an All-Ireland title on the Melodion. A full-time professional musician, sound engineer and music teacher, he has toured extensively in Ireland, Europe and the U.S. Tom's music is featured on numerous television recordings and CDs.
Tom is the musical director of the junior and teenage performance group, Glór na Sí.

Tin Whistle - Marianne Knight

Sat 15th Oct 2022, 10am - 1pm,
Foxford National School, €15

Marianne Knight hails from the rich musical environment of Aughamore, Co Mayo. A leading figure in music, song and dance, Marianne is a multi-instrumentalist with a voice and feet made for the stage. Marianne is also a fantastic Tin Whistle player and tutor.

Fiddle - David Doocey

**SOLD OUT**
Sat 15th Oct 2022, 10am - 1pm,
Foxford National School, €15

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts and now living in Foxford, County Mayo, David Doocey is at the forefront of a younger generation of musicians.
He has won several awards including All-Ireland medals on both fiddle and concertina and the first ever World Fleadh fiddle championship in 2005. He has also achieved success in the much coveted Feile Oriel trophy, an award previously held by Tommy Peoples. He is featured on many recordings and has recorded in Nashville with Grammy award winners Tim O’Brien and Allison Brown on Gráda’s ‘Natural Angle’ which was named in NPR’s top ten folk albums of 2010.
In the last number of years he has performed on stage with Michael McGoldrick, Tim O’Brien, Martin Hayes, Sean Keane, Dougie MacLean, Dermot Byrne, Sharon Shannon and many other world renowned musicians.

Flute - Stephen Doherty

Sat 15th Oct 2022, 10am - 1pm,
Foxford National School, €15

Stephen Doherty hails from Foxford and he began learning music at the age of 4 and through his teenage years began to accumulate numerous all-Ireland medals on whistle, bodhrán, drums, accordion and is a two time All-Ireland winning Champion on Melodeon and is a senior All-Ireland Champion on the flute.
In the past few years he has shared the stage with artists like, Lúnasa, Sean Keane, Dolores Keane, We Banjo 3, Dougie MacLean, Michael McGoldrick, Dermot Byrne, Slide, Sharon Shannon and has had recording sessions in Nashville with Alison Brown and Tim O’Brien.

Banjo - Brian Scahill

Sat 15th Oct 2022, 10am - 1pm,
Foxford National School, €15

One of Ireland's finest banjo players, Brian is the banjo player with the Swallow's Tail Céilí Band. He is a much sought-after tutor, teaching at various summer Schools around Ireland including the Willie Clancey Summer School.

Holly Geraghty - Beginners / Intermediate Harp

**FULL**
Sat 15th Oct 2021, 10:00am - 12:30pm,
Foxford National School,
FREE Event Organised in conjunction with Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland

Originally hailing from County Mayo, Holly is an internationally acclaimed harper, teacher and composer. Surrounded by a rich storehouse of Irish traditional music in both her home and locality, Holly began to play the concertina and piano at an early age before moving on to the harp. Holly holds several All-Ireland titles on the harp and concertina. Holly has toured extensively throughout Europe, America and Canada and has tutored at both academic institutions and international festivals. Currently Holly resides in County Galway. Holly holds a Bachelor of Music, Graduate Diploma in Music Education and a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance. Recently, Holly completed a Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership.

Beginners Tin Whistle

Sat 15th Oct 2021, 2:30pm - 3:30pm,
Foxford National School, €5

If you or a child would like to try out a tin whistle class now is your chance! Tom will take you through the starting steps to see if this is for you. Tom has over 30 years experience teaching on a daily basis, beginners, foundation, Improvers, Intermediate and Advance tin whistle classes, by zoom and in person. Tom teaches music to students, in a number of national schools in the Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon area.
Please bring tin whistle - Tom recommends an OAK D Tin Whistle.

Sean-nós Dance - Edwina Guckian

Taster / Beginner
Sun 16th Oct 2022, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
€10

Intermediate / Advanced
Sun 16th Oct 2022, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
€10

Recipient of the Gradam Ceoil TG4 2022 | Outstanding Contribution Award, Edwina Guckian will give two Sean-nós Dance workshops. One for Intermediate level and one for Advanced level.

Workshop & Master Class Booking Form

* Indicates required field

Name of Participant *

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Last

Phone Number *

Email *

Details of Workshops Required *

To ensure things run efficiently and to give everyone who comes to the workshops and masterclasses the best opportunity we would like to confirm that all Classes are Intermediate/Advanced level apart from the Master Classes and Beginners Tin Whistle.
Master Classes are open to proficient musicians, who are well able to play/learn reels and jigs by ear.
Intermediate/Advanced Classes are open to musicians who are familiar with ornamentation.
Payment can be made on the day of the workshops. Please let us know if you need to cancel.

Thank You

Please select if you wish to be sent a text, in connection with various trad events in the Mayo area. *

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Some of the Classes from Previous Years

David Doocey guides participants through all aspects of group and stage performance with a focus on arrangement, technique composition etc. This clip was recorded during the 2017 master class.

'Hands on Harp' Event
as part of Lá na Cruite / National Harp Day

On Saturday 19th October 2019 we were delighted to welcome Laoise Kelly to Foxford as part of Lá na Cruite/National Harp Day. The event gave individuals the chance to play and listen to one of the best!
#Harpday

Organised in conjunction with Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland