November 10th 2024

A day of traditional music at the Irish Institute of Music & Song

Fiddle Workshop with Lucia McPartlin

Details: 10am-12pm
Cost: 25 euro
Minimum Level: Intermediate

Lucia Mac Partlin from Ballina, Co Tipperary began playing the fiddle at the age of four. While she first started off playing classical music, she quickly began to develop an interest and a love for traditional Irish music and has since become an accomplished player in many different genres. She is the winner of many national titles, including the Fiddler of Dooney, the International Pan Celtic title and has numerous All Ireland titles from Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.

Harp Workshop with Alisha Mc Mahon

Details: 10am-12pm
Cost: 25 euro
Minimum Level: Intermediate

Alisha McMahon comes from County Clare and has been part of the harp scene from an early age learning her harp music from Fionnuala Rooney. In later years she went on to study music and holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Irish Music and Dance from the University of Limerick. During her four years on the course Alisha got the oppertunity to be under the instruction of great harp players such as Michelle Mulcahy and Lisa Canny, who have influenced her playing in diverse ways. Alisha has toured extensively over the past few years and has performed in many countries such as Germany, Austria, France, Norway, America and Canada with many different and diverse groups”.

Bodhrán Workshop with Niall Preston

Details: 10am-12pm
Cost: 25 euro

Niall Preston began his bodhrán journey at just 9 years old, quickly excelling in competitions and securing four world titles alongside underage and senior All-Ireland Fleadh championships. As a qualified adjudicator for Comhaltas, he has been invited to judge the prestigious All-Ireland Fleadh on multiple occasions. Now based in Dublin, Niall has become a successful teacher, having trained numerous All-Ireland and World bodhrán champions.

In 2012, he completed his undergraduate degree in music at the Dublin Institute of Technology, where he specialized in composition under Dr. Jane O’Leary and Dr. David Flynn. His performance skills were honed under the guidance of percussion masters Tommy Hayes of Stockton’s Wing and Noel Eccles from Riverdance. A year later, Niall earned a master's degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick, with a focus on "The Function and Developmental Process of Groove in Irish Traditional Music."

Niall has toured extensively, performing across the United States, Australia, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Morocco, and Tunisia with renowned productions such as Celtic Legends and the Irish Harp Orchestra. He also performs regularly at Belvedere Irish Nights in Dublin. His collaborations include performances with iconic musicians like Mairtín O’Connor and Dónal Lunny. Niall has also had the honor of performing for Queen Elizabeth II during her 2011 state visit to Ireland and on numerous occasions for former President Mary McAleese.

Currently, Niall is part of the Irish Institute of Music and Song, where he is involved in the Irish Music Access Programme, "Pathway to the Well."

Lunchtime Concert - Ruth Smith, Fergal Scahill & Guests

Irish Artists for Palestine are proud to present the collaboration of Ruth Smith and Fergal Scahill with international guests.

Ruth Smith is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator, and therapeutic bodyworker born and based in County Galway. Her work blends a passion for music, arts outreach, poetics, social justice, and trauma-informed practice. She is currently rehearsing with the Voices of Athenry Youth Choir for her song cycle Elemental Dance, commissioned by Athenry Music School, which is set to be performed at the National Concert Hall in February 2025.

Ruth’s stage work includes roles in Landmark Productions' Once the Musical at the Olympia Theatre, THISISPOPBABY’s RIOT at the Dublin Theatre Fringe Festival, and Rough Magic’s production of Tonic by Fionn Foley. Most recently, Ruth collaborated and recorded with Irish-Palestinian singer Róisín el Cherif on her release of Siúil a Rúin. Ruth is an IMRO Gold Award-winning radio broadcaster for her curation and presenting of Simply Folk on RTÉ Radio 1.

Fergal Scahill is a skilled multi-instrumentalist and teacher, best known for his agile fiddle playing and his online Tune a Day project, which highlights his musical prowess and collaborative spirit. Since 2017, he has recorded over 1200 tunes and worked alongside hundreds of artists. Over two decades, Fergal has toured extensively, releasing five solo projects, two albums with his band Freewheel, seven albums with We Banjo 3, and most recently, an album titled One Day:: November Woods with pianist and composer Ryan Molloy.

His musical journey has taken him to over 30 countries across all continents. Fergal is deeply committed to music education, both locally and internationally. He has worked as a visiting tutor at UL's World Academy of Music & Dance, was an artist-in-residence at Mayo's Scoil Acla in 2023, and has worked as a guest composer and tutor with Music Generation Waterford in 2021. He has also taught fiddle at the KLKP Music Camp in Saskatchewan, Canada (2023 and 2024) and over the years at the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School and the Brittany Winter School in France. Fergal is set to release his second duo album, The Gannet's Dive, with Ryan Molloy in winter 2024.