Hello friends,
The Wild Atlantic Concertina Week 2024 is fully booked
Thank you to all of you who booked in time.
It sold out in 8 minutes.
Can’t Wait!
Caitlín
PS: I’m really sorry if you didn’t get booking in time. I keep the class small so that I can give each of you sufficient individual attention and tuition during the week. Email info@concertinaweek.com if you have any questions.
Kindest Regards,
Caitlín
About the course:
A week spent exploring Irish traditional music on the concertina. It is aimed at improvers at intermediate level (ie: ability to play some reels and jigs at moderate tempo). The course will be taught on anglo concertina but other concertina systems are welcome. This week is for adult learners only, to come together to share, learn and challenge yourselves. To ensure quality and satisfaction, places are limited. I recommend familiarity with ABC notation and if possible, completion of at least the Starter Course on www.IrishConcertinaLessons.com
Bring a Friend! – Highly Recommended!
We include a ‘companion’ package so bring along your spouse or friend and they can join in on the daily activities with us. All welcome!
WILD ATLANTIC CONCERTINA WEEK 2018
WILD ATLANTIC CONCERTINA WEEK(S) 2022
WILD ATLANTIC CONCERTINA WEEK 2023
- Daily group lesson with Caitlín Nic Gabhann Particular attention will be paid to technique, phrasing, rhythm and ornamentation.
- A one-to-one lesson with Caitlín during the week (TBC) This is your opportunity to ask specific questions on your own progress and development.
- Bed & Breakfast Your own ensuite room at a local popular guesthouse is included in this price for the week 6 nights.
- Activities We want to show off this beautiful area! Weather dependent, activities may include: Boat trip to Gola island, off the coast of Gaoth Dobhair, Glenveagh Castle and gardens in the Glenveagh National Park, local music, culture and language and more…!
About the area
Gaoth Dobhair is an area of unrivalled beauty in northwest Donegal, situated between the mountains and the sea along the Wild Atlantic Way. It is the heartland of the Donegal Gaeltacht, one of the main Irish-speaking areas in the country and boasts a rich music and song tradition, with acts such as Altan, Clannad and Enya coming from the area. Explore more at: www.gaothdobhair.ie
About the tutor
Caitlín Nic Gabhann is a concertina player, performer, teacher, composer and percussive dancer. Having toured for years as a dancer with Riverdance, 3 time All-Ireland concertina champion Caitlín is a regular performer at festivals and concert halls from North America to Asia over the last 15 years. Caitlín’s life’s work to date was recently recognised with her being chosen as UCC Traditional Artist in Residence for 2022.
Raised in a house full of music in Ashbourne, Co.Meath, Caitlín learned most of her music, style and rhythm from her father Antóin Mac Gabhann. Her mother Bernie is immersed in the Clare set-dancing culture and she passed a love of this on to her children with Caitlín being her dance partner at ceilís from a young age, again heavily influencing her approach to style and rhythm.
Caitlín’s compositions have been performed in the Cork Opera House and The National Concert Hall, Dublin. The most well known would be the waltz Sunday’s Well and the reel The Leeside Sessions, both composed whilst studying in the music department of University College Cork. They featured on her debut album ‘Caitlín’ which received ‘CD of the Year’ from TradConnect.com and was labelled the ‘top Irish traditional album of 2012’ by The Wall Street Journal.
Whilst dancing with Riverdance Caitlín got to perform with the pyramids in Egypt as the backdrop as they shared the bill with Mariah Carey. As a solo dancer she was the main performer in the Celtic Christmas Sojourn in Boston and ‘Ceiliúradh’ in the Royal Albert Hall, London as a guest of President Michael D. Higgins. She has performed with the RTÉ Vanburgh Quartet, Paddy Keenan, Liam Ó Maonlaí and for Presidents and Royalty around the world. She also teaches concertina annually at summer and winter schools in Ireland, Europe and USA
Today, Caitlín is married to fiddle player and documentary maker Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and they have 3 year old twins Rosie and Frankie. From their home in the Donegal Gaeltacht she runs IrishConcertinaLessons.com a complete online resource for concertina learning, with Starter, Improver and Advanced courses, which currently has subscribers in 32 countries. She is also director of the Wild Atlantic Concertina Week, a week of music and local culture in Gaoth Dobhair that attracts international attendants annually.
Caitlín is a first class honours graduate of both University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin, She is also involved as musician and dancer with The High Seas, Caitlín & Ciarán, Cruinniú, NicGaviskey, Birkin Tree and The Irish Concertina Ensemble.
Read More
The inaugural Wild Atlantic Concertina Week in 2018 – Boat trip to Gola island
Tips:
Tip 1: Why not fly into Donegal airport. The airport is only 15 minutes from Gaoth Dobhair and has been voted the world’s most scenic approach for the second consecutive year in 2019 in a survey conducted by private jet booking service Private Fly. Twice daily flights to and from Dublin and also flights to and from Glasgow, Scotland. Get a window seat! Book with Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com for Dublin or www.loganair.co.uk for Glasgow.
Tip 2: The B&B is walking distance from the Amharclann, where your daily classes will be. So unless you want to explore the area yourself, you won’t have a need for a car, except to drive to restaurants for dinner.
Tip 3: See the county while you’re here! Donegal is a big county with breath-taking scenery. National Geographic named the county the coolest place on the planet in 2017! While we will explore the local area during the week, there is so much more to see in Donegal. Read for yourself here:
Irish Central (USA) on Donegal
We’re here to help!
Any questions, just email info@concertinaweek.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Have a question? Email info@concertinaweek.com