This will be Karen Ballew’s 11th year to attend the O’Flaherty retreat, and she is very excited to be teaching the Gaelic Singing workshops! Karen’s love for sean-nós singing and songs in the Irish language inspired her to teach lessons in this music, which eventually led her to found The Gaelic Youth Chorus at The North Texas School of Irish Music in 2013. She would like to thank the … [Read more...] about Karen Ballew
Workshop Presenters
Angela Botzer
A Washington, DC native, Angela Botzer has played traditional Irish music on the fiddle in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area since the early 1980’s. She was a member of the DC-based bands Sodabread, and The Hedgerows, and has played for numerous ceilis and contradances. Angela has also had performances at the Irish Embassy in Washington, DC. Since moving to Oklahoma six years ago, … [Read more...] about Angela Botzer
Heather Carmichael
Heather Carmichael is a massage therapist in Allen, TX. At the age of 7 years old, Heather became interested in massage therapy, which only grew as she got older. As a musician herself, Heather’s primary focus in massage school was studying musicians’ injuries, with particular interest in trigger point therapy, injury & rehabilitation massage, and hydrotherapy. … [Read more...] about Heather Carmichael
Workshop — Methods to Ease the Pains of Irish Music
Anna Colliton
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
Dave Curley
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
Janis Deane
Janis Deane, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and has more than 30 years of experience working with patients who have voice disorders, swallowing disorders, chronic cough and vocal cord dysfunction, and those requiring voice restoration following total laryngectomy. Janis is a classically trained singer, but also an avid instrumentalist. She has played Irish … [Read more...] about Janis Deane
Workshops — Learning By Ear | Voice Health for Singers
2004, 2005, 2008, 2009
Paul Dryer
Guitarist Paul Dryer is no stranger to diverse music styles. Over the past 40 years, Paul has played in jazz, bluegrass, rock and gospel bands and numerous vocal groups. Originally from Kentucky, Paul has lived in the Dallas area since the early 1960's. He also plays mandolin, banjo, harmonica, whistle and Irish flute with the Dallas band 5 Second Rule, and … [Read more...] about Paul Dryer
Workshop — Irish Tunes Played on Harmonica | Guest Concert Performer
Mike Dugger
Michael Dugger has been playing Irish music since 1982 when he was a founding member of the early super Irish American music group, Scartaglen. He was also a founding member of Sunrush and The Kelly Band. Though he started out in the music playing the stringed instruments, a left hand injury pushed him in the direction of the button accordion. He has been playing the box since 2001. He’s has shown … [Read more...] about Mike Dugger
Rose Conway Flanagan
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
Emily Furillo
Emily Furillo is a performer and teacher of traditional Irish dance with over 17 years of experience in a variety of Irish and percussive styles. She was initially trained in competitive step dance where she had a successful seven-year course. After her time competing, Emily was introduced to the social side of Irish dance to include sets, ceili and sean-nós (“old style”) dances. She … [Read more...] about Emily Furillo