O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat
Teaching the Tradition of Irish Music
Pat Broaders grew up in Dublin, the son of parents from Wexford. He began his journey in traditional music at the age of eight. He started out on the whistle, and later moved on to theuilleann pipes under the tutelage of Leon Rowsome. He took up the bouzouki in 1988, inspired by the sounds he grew up hearing from bands like Planxty, and the popularity of the instrument in Dublin’s vibrant … [Read more...] about Pat Broaders
2007, 2019
This will be Brenda Castles first time teaching at the retreat. Brenda Castles comes from a rich tradition of music in Co. Meath, having learned concertina from Rena Traynor (née Crotty) and concertina maestro, Mícheál Ó'Raghallaigh. She has several All Ireland Fleadh titles to her name both in solo and group competitions. Music has brought her around the world from Hong Kong to Rekjavik, … [Read more...] about Brenda Castles
Anglo Concertina Classes (All Levels) | Enrichment Class: Accompanying Songs on Traditional Non-accompanying Instruments
2019
Anna Colliton taught at the retreat in 2010 and 2015. Anna Colliton is one of America’s leading exponents of the bodhran, the traditional Irish frame drum. A native of Chicago, a city of Irish musical excellence, Anna plays a highly intricate style of drumming with masterful tonal and rhythmic variation. She has taught and performed at festivals across the country, including Catskills Irish … [Read more...] about Anna Colliton
2010, 2015, 2019
Born in Birmingham, England, Kevin Crawford’s early life was one long journey into Irish music and Co. Clare, where he eventually moved while in his 20s. He was a founding member of Moving Cloud, the Clare-based band who recorded such critically-acclaimed albums as Moving Cloud and Foxglove, and he has also recorded with Grianin, Raise the Rafters, Joe Derrane, Natalie Merchant, Susan McKeown, and … [Read more...] about Kevin Crawford
Intermediate & Advanced Whistle Classes | Enrichment Class — The Humble Tin Whistle
2011, 2016, 2019
This will be Frances Cunningham's first time teaching at the retreat. Frances Cunningham is a native of Southeast Texas and fell into Irish music at an early age. She learned the Irish Bouzouki and became a founding member of the Celtic rock band SixMileBridge which recorded and toured heavily from the late 90s into the 2000s. She then moved to Nashville where she picked up the Tenor Banjo and … [Read more...] about Frances Cunningham
Mandolin/Tenor Banjo Fundamentals Classes | Enrichment Class — Exploring the Connection between Irish and Appalachian Music
2019
Dave Curley last taught at the retreat in 2012. Dave Curley is one of Ireland's leading multi-instrumentalists and vocalists. Hailing from Co. Galway on the west coast of Ireland, Curley has brought his wealth of talents to the largest of stages in North America and Western Europe. For 10 years, Curley has worked with the award-winning traditional super group SLIDE and also spent 5 … [Read more...] about Dave Curley
2012, 2019
John Doyle taught at the retreat in 2005 and 2011. Originally from Dublin, and a longtime resident of Asheville, N.C., John Doyle is a compelling singer and songwriter, producer, multi-Grammy nominee, and an extraordinary master of the Irish guitar whose singular percussive style has influenced a generation of players. A founding member of the acclaimed group Solas, John’s guitar sound took the … [Read more...] about John Doyle
Dropped-D Guitar Classes (All Levels) | Enrichment Class — Writing Songs that Tell the Stories
2005, 2011, 2019 | Recipient of the Irish Artist in America Award
Colin Farrell last taught in 2016. Colin Farrell, whose parents are from Co. Galway and Co. Cavan, was born in Manchester, England, into a musical family. Colin started playing the fiddle and tin whistle from an early age and has made a name for himself performing and recording with an array of great musicians in Europe and the U.S., including Flook, Grada, Karen Casey, John Doyle, … [Read more...] about Colin Farrell
Intermediate Fiddle Classes | Enrichment Class: Irish Traditional Music in England
2016, 2019
This will be Brian Finnegan's first time teaching at O'Flaherty's. Brian Finnegan from Armagh is regarded as one of the truly original and significant voices in traditional Irish music. Frontman with groundbreaking bands Flook and Kan, he has toured and recorded with a glittering array of stars as diverse as Anoushka Shankar, Cara Dillon, Rokia Traore, Bebel Gilberto, and most recently with Ed … [Read more...] about Brian Finnegan
2019
Rose Conway Flanagan is our recipient for this year's Irish Artist in America Achievement Award. Rose Conway Flanagan originally began Irish music lessons with Martin Mulvihill while growing up in the Bronx. She then further developed her New York Sligo style of fiddling with the help of family friend and mentor Martin Wynne and her older brother Brian Conway. Rose was recently inducted into … [Read more...] about Rose Conway Flanagan
Intermediate Fiddle Classes | Workshop — Playing Tunes with…
2011, 2019 | Recipient of the Irish Artist in America Achievement Award
