• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

Teaching Traditional Irish Music

Registration
Schedule |  Shop | Donate | Contact
  • Info
    • About Our Retreat
    • Retreat History
    • Enrollment Tips
    • For Newcomers
    • FAQs
    • 2022 Schedule of Events
    • Updates
    • Fees
    • Payment Policies
    • Register
    • Scholarships
    • Age Exception Policy
    • Ways to Support
    • O’Flaherty Marketplace
    • 2023 Retreat Flyer
    • Blog
  • Learning
    • About Course Levels
    • Core Courses
    • Enrichment Classes
    • Workshops
    • Informances
    • Luthier Clinics
    • Private Lessons
    • Student Resources
  • Staff
    • Core Instructors
    • Enrichment Class Instructors
    • Workshop Presenters
    • Guest Performers
    • Session Leaders
  • Events
    • Instructor Concerts
    • Instructor-Led Sessions
    • Nightly Sessions
    •  Streamed Concerts
    • Ceilis
    • Guest Concerts
  • Lodging & Meals
    • Lodging
    • Lodging Waiting List Request
    • Meals & Refreshments
    • Meal Menu
  • Travel
    • Maps & Directions
    • Site Map
    • Shuttle Bus Services
  • Forms
    • Contact Us
    • Donations
    • Sign Up for Email Updates
    • Age Exception Request
    • Scholarship Application
    • Lodging Waiting List Request
    • Class Waiting List
    • Airport Shuttle Bus Request
    • Special Needs for Lodging Form
    • Workshop Proposal Form
    • Vendor Booth Application
    • Camp Waiver
  • Archives
    • Past Instructors
    • Past Enrichment Classes
    • Past Workshops
    • Archive of Past Retreats
    • Videos
    • Irish Artist in America Achievement Award

Shay Black

February 23, 2019 By Ken Fleming

Photo of Shay Black

Shay Black is an avid songcatcher, musician and singer and is known for his extensive knowledge of songs and music from the Irish, English, Scottish, and North American traditions. Born in Dublin, Ireland, he moved in 1994 to Berkeley, CA from Liverpool, where he had lived for the previous twenty years. While in Liverpool, he toured and recorded with Irish band Garva, the celebrated Stan Hugill and fabled sea shanty singers Stormalong John.

Shay is the eldest member of Ireland’s Black Family, who are “regarded as one of the most impressive groups of Irish singers to be found anywhere” according to a review in The Irish Echo. As a close-knit family group, which includes his brothers Michael and Martin and sisters Frances and Mary Black, they possess a bond which never fails to translate into their onstage intertwining of voices, which has been described as exquisite, exhilarating, and nothing short of thrilling.

Shay teaches Folk Repertoire at Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage music venue, now held weekly and world-wide on Zoom, and his most regular pre-COVID local gig was the weekly Starry Irish Music Session at the Starry Plough pub in Berkeley every Sunday. He tours regularly in the US and Europe with Michael as The Black Brothers, also with Martin, Frances and Mary Black as The Black Family.  Both Shay and Michael have been Instructors at O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in years past.

Apart from family gigs, Shay performs individually, and with a myriad of musicians and singers in the bay area, including Nauticus and Dogwatch, both sea music bands, and De Dannyboyz, an occasional group that plays weddings, sessions, parties, and wakes. Shay has recorded and performed with the California Revels, Shira Kammen, Peter Kasin and Richard Adrianovich, Dogwatch, Sharon Knight, In Harmony’s Way and other groups and singers. With Celia Ramsay he released a “Singer’s Request”, and in 2020 he and Michael released the CD “Glackanacker”.

When Shay performs, his music creates a sheer celebration of singing which he generously shares with his audience.  The material is quintessentially Irish, ranging from traditional to humorous to new songs. Shay will always welcome audience participation, and his infectious humor, wit, and unalloyed joy in singing make it difficult for anyone to remain a spectator for long! 

Shay
Black

Instructor – Singing  |  Enrichment Class – Irish Influenced Songs of the Sea  |  Lead Song Session

2016, 2022

Testimonials

Former Student

Every year I am impressed with the talent and dedication at the retreat. The instructors are really interested in mentoring the students and approaching the music with generosity of spirit and an appreciation for the full context. I learned a great deal!

Read all our testimonials…

Footer

O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

Traditional Irish Music Education Society (TIMES)
1320 Navaho Trail
Richardson, TX 75080
(469) 215-1840
Privacy Policy

 

FAQs

Map & Directions

Fees

Scholarships

Age Exceptions

Sponsorships

 

  • Facebook

Join Our Mailing List

Copyright © 2023 Traditional Irish Music Education Society & O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

All Rights Reserved

· · ·

Log in