Concertinas to reign supreme in Miltown

OIDHREACHT an Chláir in Miltown Malbay will present the first annual Concertina Cruinniú on the weekend of February 8 to 10 in the town.

While well-established annual events, such as the uilleann pipers’ Tionól, the harpists’ Cúirt Cruitearachta, Cruinniúnabh Fliúit in Cúil Aodha and Cairdeas na bhFidléirí’s fiddle week in Glencolumcille, provide a forum for enthusiasts and practitioners on most traditional instruments, there has been no similar celebration of the concertina in Ireland for a number of years.

Situated in the heart of West Clare, where concertina playing has been an integral part of traditional music life for centuries and where it is currently thriving, Miltown Malbay is a good for such a festival and the event will salute the instrument’s special place in the local musical landscape.

The principal weekend events will include the official opening and lecture by Dan Worrall. He is regarded as the leading expert on the social history of the Anglo-German concertina worldwide.

The weekend will also include classes for players of all ages and abilities with experienced tutors. Another feature will be instrument maintenance workshops, an exhibition of old and rare concertinas as well as archive audio, video and photographic material, intimate sessions with some of Clare and Ireland’s leading concertina players and an afternoon with some of Clare’s legendary masters of the concertina, who will share their memories of the players who influenced them and the tunes they learned from the older generations.

Saturday night’s concert with Noel Hill, Tony Linnane, Alec Finn, Rick Epping and Mick Kinsella, will be held in St Joseph’s Parish Church. Further details and a full programme of events, see www.oac.ie or on Facebook: The Concertina Cruinniú 2013.