Friday’s Morning Focus came live from Miltown Malbay from the 41st Willie Clancy Summer School
The Willie Clancy Summer School is dedicated to promoting the study and practice of Irish Traditional music, song & dance.
Held annually since 1973 in memory of the piper Willie Clancy, the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy is Ireland’s largest traditional music summer school
John Cooke was joined by Harry Hughes, Administrative Director of the Willie Clancy Summer School to speak about this year’s school, and the history of this world famous festival of Irish traditional music.
Concertina player and tutor Claire Keville also joined them for a chat about the goings on this year
and Harmonica expert Rick Epping – formerly of the band Pumpkinhead joined John for a word about his music
Rick also played a tune on the mouth organ and concertina.
Clare FM’s Máire Moynahan was in Miltown Malbay this week to meet with some of the tutors and students of the 41st Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy.
She’s been speaking with Michael Falsey from Quilty – a well known piper and an original committee member for Willie Clancy week, Teresa Morrissey – a festival steward from Spanish Point, Dublin piper and tutor Mick O’Connor, Miltown’s own Edel Fox – concertina player and tutor and another much loved concertina player Noel Hill.
They spoke to Máire about the importance of the annual music school for musicians and students and how it’s become an internationally renowned traditional music event….
Seamus O’Rochain – son of the late Muiris and organising committee member joined John for a chat
He was joined by another Uilleann piper – Gay McKeon from Dublin- and they each played a tune.
Clare FM’s Máire Moynahan spent a day in Miltown Malbay soaking up the atmosphere on the streets and spoke to locals and visitors alike about their impressions of the festival this year – she also met with local shop owners about what the annual Summer School means for business locally…
She paid a visit to Padraig McNeilla in the Irish Instrument "Pop Up" Shop, Marie (pron: Ma-ray) Fox from An Siopa Beag and Maureen Kilduff from The Gift Shop and Tourist Information Point on Main Street.
John was then joined by Tony Cogan of Cogan’s Bar, Micky Wilson and John Jones to talk about how business is doing in the town
Tony spoke about business during Willie Week and their website www.visitmiltownmalbay.ie
They are run off their feet every year at this time and the fine weather is an added boost to them this year
Micky Wilson, retired Publican – former Wilson’s Bar – spoke about helping his son Jonathon who runs Friel’s Bar.
Micky ran the former Wilson’s Bar all his life as it had belonged to his parents before him and has worked through many the Willie Clancy Summer Schools.
Business man John Jones joined John also
Just last month they provided an employment boost with the opening of a brand new supermarket
Jones’s Supervalu on the Ennis Road in Miltown Malbay employs 50 people in it’s purpose built premises, which together with local community facilities represents a 5.5 million euro investment in the local economy
John was joined by Margaret and Bill Wynette from Sydney, Australia
They have been coming to the Willie Clancy Summer School for the past thirty years
They are step dancers and run their own dance school in Sydney
They spoke about their love of step dancing and stories of their experiences in Miltown over the years
Rosie Davis is an Appalachian Dancer visiting the summer school for the first time
She performed at the Willie Clancy Summer School on Saturday night and is taking step dancing lessons, as she explained to John.
The Clans of Clare series
The Tribe of Dal gCais is a new 15 part series in which 15 Clan names were chosen who’s origins are based in Co. Clare. Each Clan name descends from the The Tribe of Dal gCais who were a powerful network of Families from the 10th Century that ruled the Kingdom of Thomond.
The series was produced by Denise Woods and we’ll be featuring a different tribe each day over the next three weeks
Today we looked at the Broderick clan.
Fiddlers Fidelma O’Brien and Tomas O’Dalaigh joined John for a chat and played us out with a tune.
For more information see www.visitmiltownmalbay.ie or www.oac.ie
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