11 Bun Sleibhe, Mullaghbawn, Newry, County Down, BT359TW
Traditional Arts Partnership – Trustee’s Annual Report 1[st] June 22 – 31[st] May 23
The Traditional Arts Partnership has enjoyed another very successful year. Our classes continue to grow with over 180 pupils attending our weekly classes in Traditional Music and song. We are delighted to see an increase in adult learners once again this year as this is something TAP has been promoting.
46 of our pupils sat their London College of music exams in Traditional Music in June with 100% passes. 28 Distinctions, 14 Merits and 4 passes.
The young musicians continue to perform at a range of Community events. They played in a number of Nursing Homes during the year and also played in the local fold at Christmas. The teenage musicians have continued to willingly volunteer their time at the different community events.
They also took part in the Armagh Fleadh with many of them qualifying through to the Ulster fleadh which was held in Dromore County Down. 2 of our musicians qualified through to the All-Ireland Fleadh in Mullingar with one of them placing 3[rd] in an Over 18 competition.
5 of our tutors took part in the group competition of Scór Sinsir. They won Armagh, Ulster and went on to lift the All-Ireland title in Castlebar County Mayo in November. A fantastic achievement for these 5 young musicians.
Many of our singers have enjoyed great success in Irish language competitions and one of our singers/harp players qualified through to the Final of the Irish Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
One of our Fiddle Tutors was placed 3[rd] in The Ed Reavey Fiddle Competition in County Cavan.
15 of our young musicians took part in Scor na Nog during the year. Our harps and pipes continue to be used and we now have 10 harp pupils and 6 pipes pupils. We purchased 3 flutes and 2 concertinas this year which has enabled pupils to try the instrument before their parents purchase an instrument.
We continued to welcome visiting groups to the area. A day visit from Craobh Phiaras (Dublin) and Glengormley School of traditional Music. We walked An Tobar in Silverbridge which was followed by food and a session in Silverbridge clubrooms.
4 of our tutors enjoyed a day up in Glengormley where they enjoyed a workshop on teaching music delivered by Liz Doherty.
We also welcomed a group of musicians from The Glens of Antrim. We enjoyed a mountain walk and an exchange of tunes.
The 15-18 group spent a day and night up in An Culturlán in Monkstown taking part in Tradathon with the 15-18 musicians from Craobh Phiaras.
A group of our young musicians spent 3 days down in Kinsale where they met up with the young musicians from Ballinspittle CCE. They had workshops, walks and lots of music sessions.
We welcomed Brian Millar from The Centre for Irish Music in St Paul Minnesota. Brian was involved in the online collaboration between TAP Muiscians and musicians from CIM and 2 of our tutors had worked with him during their visit to Minnesota in April.
In March, we received a lovely donation of 2 popup stands from one of our parents and these have been used at events since then.
Our Second Sunday Sessions continue each month in different venues in South aRMAGH.
We are grateful to St Mary’s PS Mullaghbawn who continue to let us use the school for our weekly classes. Also, to St Patrick’s PS Crossmaglen, Lislea hall and shed for the use of their premises during the summer months.
Thank you also to parents who allow us to store sound equipment, chairs and the tents in their sheds and garages.
We look forward to another summer of music and friendship in the coming months.
Siobhan Downey Alana Flynn Liam O’Sullivan
Siobhan Downey, Alana Flynn, Liam O’Sullivan (TAP Trustees)
3[rd] June 2023