O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat
Teaching Traditional Irish Music
We are very fortunate to have as core instructors some of the most talented musicians and teachers currently active in Irish music today. We continue the tradition of sharing Irish music "knee to knee" by enabling our students to learn face to face with those who are recognized as great stewards of the music. Here are our core instructors for this year:
Bodhrán (Fundamentals) -- Rob Forkner
Bodhrán -- Cara Wildman
Bouzouki -- Alan Murray
Button Accordion -- Dónal Murphy
Concertina (Fundamentals) -- Catrióna Fee
Concertina -- Aileen Bourke
Dancing (Sean-nós) -- Rebecca McGowan
Fiddle (Fundamentals) -- Sarah Collins
Fiddle -- Sorcha Costello, James Kelly, Matthew Mancuso, and Sinéad McKenna
Flute/Whistle (Fundamentals) -- Brenda Dowling
Flute -- John Wynne
Guitar -- Micky Fearon
Harp -- Gráinne Hambly
Mandolin & Tenor Banjo (Fundamentals) -- Simon Lace
Mandolin -- Shane Farrell
Singing -- Máirtín de Cógáin
Tenor Banjo -- Elaine Riley
Uilleann Pipes -- Seán Gavin
Whistle -- Cedar Dobson
Hailing from a musical family in Bonniconlon Ballina, is Aileen Bourke, a well established concertina player who prides herself in her North Connacht style of music. She is a graduate from the Irish Music & Dance course at University of Limerick where she received a first class honours in her degree. In recent years, she has played extensively throughout Ireland, the UK and … [Read more...] about Aileen Bourke
Core Instructor – Anglo Concertina | Lecturer – North Connacht Repertoir
2026
Sarah Collins is a fiddle player based in Baltimore with deep roots in the Boston traditional Irish and Scottish music communities. Sarah is a sought-after fiddle teacher in the Baltimore area, and has taught at a number of fiddle camps across the country, including Hanneke Cassel's Pure Dead Brilliant Fiddle Weekend, Katie McNally's Boston States Fiddle Camp, Baltimore's Irish Trad Fest, and the … [Read more...] about Sarah Collins
Core Instructor – Fiddle Fundamentals | Workshop Presenter – Playing Second Fiddle
2026
Awarded with the prestigious Gradam Ceoil TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2021, Sorcha Costello is a traditional Irish fiddle player from Tulla Co. Clare and hails from a family emersed in traditional Irish music. Respected as a performer, teacher and composer, Sorcha has toured worldwide for over ten years and is in high demand on the Irish music festival circuit. Released in 2023, Sorcha’s solo … [Read more...] about Sorcha Costello
Core Instructor – Fiddle | Lecturer – An Exploration of the East Clare Style of Irish Music: Looking back, Moving Forward
2026
Máirtín de Cógáin is one of Ireland’s most compelling contemporary ballad singers—an electrifying performer whose work seamlessly weaves song, rhythm, movement, and story. A powerful vocalist and accomplished bodhrán player, he is equally renowned as a playwright and actor, performing throughout Ireland and across the United States. With an infectious presence and instinctive rapport with … [Read more...] about Máirtín de Cógáin
Core Instructor – Singing | 2026 Irish Artist in America Achievement Award | Lecturer – Ireland – Land of Legends: Where Every Stone Has a Story to Tell | TradTalk
Former Instructor – Bodhrán, Set Dancing
2012, 2018, 2026
Cedar Dobson is a versatile tin whistle player, multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, and producer hailing from California near Yosemite National Park. She plays high and low whistles, Irish flute, silver flute, Bodhrán, bouzouki, mandolin, and other instruments. Cedar discovered her deep passion for Traditional Irish music after discovering the tin whistle at an American Civil War … [Read more...] about Cedar Dobson
Core Instructor – Whistle | Workshop Presenter – Deep Dive Into Variations
2026
Brenda Dowling is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist from Woodlawn, The Bronx, New York. Starting with traditional music at the age of 7, she has studied tin whistle, flute, and concertina under many renowned musicians. Brenda has won numerous titles, such as championships at the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh Cheoil, an All Ireland Championship, as well as an award from Comhaltas for promoting Irish … [Read more...] about Brenda Dowling
Core Instructor – Flute/Whistle Fundamentals | Workshop Presenter – Context Matters: Finessing your Music to Fit the Moment
2026
Shane Farrell is an award-winning Irish multi-instrumentalist who began playing traditional Irish music at age seven in a family steeped in the tradition. An All-Ireland Champion, Shane has performed over 10,000 live shows worldwide, building a career as a seasoned international entertainer. Now based in Orlando, Florida, he performs regularly for Universal Studios and Walt Disney World, tours … [Read more...] about Shane Farrell
Core Instructor – Mandolin | Lecturer – Building Up and Tearing England Down: Songs of the Irish Navvies in England
Former Instructor – Tenor Banjo
2021, 2026
Micky Fearon is a talented singer and guitarist from Lurgan, Armagh. Honing his skills from local sessions and festivals, Micky is known for his powerful voice and guitar accompaniment throughout Ireland and further afield. Micky is a member of the up and coming band “The Railway Boys” alongside renowned musicians such as Oisin Murphy and Pearse Larkin, who have recently performed at Electric … [Read more...] about Micky Fearon
Core Instructor – Guitar | Informance | Workshop Presenter – Arranging Accompaniment for Songs
2026
Catrióna Fee is a concertina player from Cold Spring, New York who is currently based in Washington, D.C. She is a triplet, the sister of Mairead Fee and Angela Fee, who play the flute and the fiddle respectively. Having two other musicians in the house had a profound impact on her playing, leading her to emphasize the importance of playing in a group rather than focusing solely on solo playing. … [Read more...] about Catrióna Fee
Core Instructor – Concertina Fundamentals | Lecturer – The History of the Concertina
2026
Rob Forkner was introduced to the music at a young age, and unable to find a suitable instrument Rob took directly to making his own. Since then Rob’s musical experience has been a mixture of being both a player of music and a maker of instruments. Rob started building his own drums many years ago and is now one of the most sought after builders of bodhrans in the world, … [Read more...] about Rob Forkner
Core Instructor – Bodhrán Fundamentals | Workshop Presenter – How Bodhráns are Made
2018, 2026
