11 Bun Sleibhe, Mullaghbawn, Newry, County Down, BT359TW
NICC 107856
Traditional Arts Partnership – Trustee’s Annual Report 1[st] June 23 – 31[st] May 24
The Traditional Arts Partnership has once again enjoyed another very musical year. Our classes continue to grow with over 220 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 promotes.
The young musicians continued to perform at a range of Community events. They played in a number of Nursing Homes during the year and provided music for Lislea Community day, Forkhill Community Association Christmas Dinner, the hall for All Community day in Newry, Feile Na Tana in Carlingford. 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. 3 of our musicians qualified through to the AllIreland Fleadh in Mullingar with two of them placing 2nd in an Under 18 Trio competition.
4 of our musicians took part in the instrumental group competition of Scór qualifying to the Ulster Final.
Many of our singers have enjoyed great success in Irish language competitions once again this year as well as taking part in a variety of workshops throughout the province.
One of our Fiddle Tutors was a finalist in the prestigious Fiddler of London Competition.
Our harps and pipes continue to be well used, and we now have 12 harp pupils and 6 pipes pupils. We purchased 3 flutes and one button accordion this year and we had the following instruments donated to TAP: 3 Fiddles, , 2 guitars, 2 accordions and one bodhran. This has enabled pupils to try the instrument before their parents purchase.
We continued to welcome visiting groups to the area. We enjoyed a visit from our friends from Ballinspittle CCE in County Cork and had a celebration evening in The Welcome Inn Forkhill with their All Ireland winning Ceili Band performing alongside local musicians.
A group of our young musicians spent 3 days down in Kinsale where they met up with the young musicians from Ballinspittle CCE. They enjoyed workshops, walks and lots of music sessions.
The highlight of the year was the visit of the Sullivan Family from the Ojibwe Tribe in Wisconsin. They took part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Forkhill, played in sessions, gave recitals and talks and the visit culminated in a a fantastic Community Concert in Lislea which featured local musicians and the Sullivan family performing traditional songs and tunes from both cultures. The evening ended with all musicians performing and all of the audience taking part in a round dance.
Our Second Sunday Sessions continue each month in different venues in South Armagh. These encourage our beginner and Improver musicians of all ages to experience playing in a session and have generally had up to 30 musicians at each session.
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.
Once again, we look forward to another summer of music and friendship in the coming months.
Siobhan Downey
Alana Flynn
Siobhan Downey, Alana Flynn, (TAP Trustees)
1[st] June 2024