O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat
Teaching Traditional Irish Music
Our Workshop presenters include students, former and current instructors and invited guests who have knowledge and expertise on topics of interests to our participants. See WORKSHOPS for descriptions and SCHEDULE (PDF or Mobile-Friendly) for the times and days of these events. Here are our Workshop presenters for this year:
Joseph Beckey comes from a choral tradition until discovering Irish music at a pub in 2008. One of the musicians taught a class “Traditional Songs In Harmony” at the Center for Irish Music in St. Paul, MN. After that, he was hooked. He has taken numerous song classes as well as learning to play mandolin, guitar, bouzouki and bodhrán. Soon after learning his first chords, Joseph was … [Read more...] about Joseph Beckey
Workshop Presenter – Pub Songs Sing-Along
Clare Cason began violin studies at the age of 4, having been born into a family of musicians. She attended the University of North Texas, where she was chosen as Outstanding Undergraduate in Music. Presently she holds leadership positions in the Sherman Symphony, East Texas Symphony, and the Dallas Bach Society. She became interested in Celtic music as a teenager through the … [Read more...] about Clare Cason
Workshop Presenter – Waltzes that Delight & What is a Mazurka, Exactly?
Former Instructor – Fiddle
2011
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
Emily Critz is an Irish dancer with over 20 years of experience in a variety of Irish and percussive genres. She initially trained as a competitive step dancer until she transitioned to sets, ceílí, and sean-nós (“old style”) styles. Her dance repertoire extends from Ireland to include Quebecois step dance and French waltz clog which bring a remarkable blend of percussive expression to her … [Read more...] about Emily Critz
Workshop Presenter – Sean-nós Dance Workshop
Multi-instrumentalist Rick Cunningham has played traditional Irish music for over 40 years, playing in several bands in the southern US during that time. He primarily plays mandolin and button accordion, and also plays bouzouki, guitar, and whistle. Rick placed 1st in solo mandolin in the Midwest Fleadh Cheoiland, competed in the All Ireland in 2006, and he has taught at several festivals and folk … [Read more...] about Rick Cunningham
Workshop Presenter – Getting Started with Recording
Former Instructor – Mandolin and Tenor Banjo
2006, 2009, 2014
Janis Deane, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and has 40 years of experience working with patients who have voice disorders, swallowing disorders, chronic cough and vocal cord dysfunction. She specialized in working with singers and those requiring voice restoration following total laryngectomy. Janis is a classically trained singer, but also an avid instrumentalist. … [Read more...] about Janis Deane
Workshop Presenter – Vocal Health for Singers
Former Instructor – Whistle, Flute
2004, 2005, 2008, 2009
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
Paul is no stranger to diverse music styles. Originally from Kentucky, moving to Texas in the early 1960’s, his passion for music was ignited by the early 60’s rock scene. Paul has played in rock, jazz, bluegrass, swing and gospel bands and is currently active in Irish-Celtic music as past president of the Traditional Irish Music Education Society and heavily involved with the … [Read more...] about Paul Dryer
Workshop Presenter – Playing Irish Harmonica
Angelika Eleni is a performer from Dallas, TX with over two decades of experience in competitive Irish dance and music performance, along with other folk dance traditions. As a studio artist at the McAllen Creative Incubator, she established McAllen Irish Arts to develop an Irish traditional arts community in the Rio Grande Valley region through lessons, free céilí workshops, regular music … [Read more...] about Angelika Eleni
Workshop Presenter – Set Dance Workshop
