South Sligo Summer School
July 12 – 18, 2026
As we look forward to the 40th Year of the South Sligo Summer School in Tubbercurry in just over a fortnight's time (12-18 July) we are delighted to have world renowned flautist Matt Molloy officially open the festival in St. Brigid’s Hall,Tubbercurry on Sunday, 12th July at 5.30 pm, followed by Reception & Seisiún. Fáilte is fiche roimh gach duine.
Matt was born in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon, an area well known for flute players. Matt began playing the flute at age 8 and by the age of 18, he had won the All-Ireland Flute Championship and had a string of successes in National Fleadh Cheoil and Oireachtas. He moved to Dublin in the mid 1960’s where he started playing in the music scene and became acquainted with Paddy Moloney. He was invited to join The Chieftains in 1979.
''The Chieftains ~ Boil The Breakfast Early'' was his first album with the Chieftains. Coming as he does from a strong musical background, of the famed fiddle and flute playing tradition of North Connacht, Matt was already known as an accomplished flautist playing with a number of groups and session artists before joining the Chieftains.
During the burgeoning folk scene of the 1970’s, Matt was a founding member of the famous folk group, The Bothy Band. After the Bothy Band, Matt appeared briefly with the reformed group, Planxty. Matt has released several highly acclaimed solo albums and has worked with many other accomplished musicians. He has teamed up with Paul Brady, Tommy Peoples, Micheál Ó Súilleabháin, Dónal Lunny and the Irish Chamber Orchestra among other artists.
Matt's pub in Westport, County Mayo, Matt Molloy’s, is known far and wide for mighty music, sessions and great live gigs.
Matt played at the launch of the iconic book 'Trip to Sligo' by Boyle musician, music researcher and collector, Bernard Flaherty in St. Brigid’s Hall, Tubbercurry at the South Sligo Summer School in 1991. We're delighted that Bernard's book has been reissued, still in its original dark green hard cover format with gold lettering and fiddle design on the front and will be for sale during the week of the summer school in our Pop-up Shop on Teeling Street. Thanks to Liz Marroni for recently sharing a photo of Matt on this memorable occasion in the annals of the summer school.
Welcome back to Tubbercurry Matt!
Céad Míle Fáilte. Welcome to the official South Sligo Summer School Website.
How it all began:
The South Sligo Summer School was founded in 1987 in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo to conserve and promote the rich tradition of music, song and dance of the area. The idea stemmed from an initiative, ‘Tobar Co Op’, which was established in Tubbercurry in the early to mid 1980’s, at a time of high unemployment and emigration in rural towns and areas like Tubbercurry and South Sligo. There was a clear need for something new and different to help boost the local community spirit, economy and above all, keep the music of the area alive. As part of Tobar Co Op’s efforts to revitalise the town and surrounding hinterland, three main strengths were identified - agriculture, industry and traditional music. The music stood out as being something worth nurturing and promoting and it became obvious through talking to older musicians living locally that every effort needed to be made to ensure that it wasn’t lost to future generations. Four people got together to turn their dream into reality and the South Sligo Summer School came into existence on Sunday, July 12th, 1987.
With a full programme of classes, workshops, céilithe, concerts, recitals and talks, there is special emphasis on the old Sligo traditional style of playing whilst also including a range of instruments from uilleann pipes to bodhrán as well as embracing new ideas and giving a platform to young emerging local musicians, many of whom are former pupils of the summer school, to share their talents with our visitors of all ages from near and far.
2026 marks our 40th Year. Lots of special events are in the pipeline to celebrate this milestone., not least the Monday Night Concert in St. Brigid’s Hall when the great legacy of the four founders of the summer school, Rita Flannery, Geraldine Murtagh, Michael Severs and Marie Flannery, will be honoured and celebrated. Please refer to the ‘Programme’ on the Home Page menu for all the details of a lovely new Spoken Word, Poetry & Lilting performance not to be missed, taking place in St. George’s Church, Tubbercurry from 6.30 - 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 15th July. Featuring multi award winning poet Noelle Lynskey, raised in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, now living in Portumna, Co. Galway; spoken word artist Ross McCarrick, a native of Tubbercurry and brother and sister Cian & Caoimhe Kearins, champion lilters from the Ballymote area of County Sligo, this will be a special midweek treat. With more exciting news on the way over the next few weeks, we can’t wait to see you all in Tobar a’ Choire. Táimid ar bís, bígí linn!
Workshops & Events
Choose from a wide variety of workshops each morning, take in a sean nós dance class or interactive talk after lunch, then enjoy your evenings with the many concerts, céilithe and lively sessions on offer.
Located in Tubbercurry,
Co. Sligo, in Ireland’s North West region.
Tubbercurry is the second-largest town in terms of both population and land area in County Sligo, Ireland. It lies at the foot of the Ox Mountains, on the N17 national primary road. Tubbercurry is a fifteen minute drive from Ireland West International Airport with daily flights from several destinations in the UK, including London Heathrow, as well as regular flights from many destinations across mainland Europe. The nearest railway station in Ballymote, on the Dublin - Sligo line, is a twenty minute drive from Tubbercurry. The Sligo - Derry Bus Eireann Expressway Route 64 stops in Tubbercurry several times a day and we are also serviced by the Feda O’Donnell Galway - Donegal bus route.
Visitors to Tubbercurry and South Sligo can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities while visiting our area, with lots of walks, including the Tubbercurry Forest Trail, on our doorstep as well as a nine hole golf course within easy walking distance of the centre of town. Be sure to call into Tubbercurry Community Library and the Tourist Office, both on Humbert Street, during your visit to Tubbercurry where you can get lots more information and ideas for places to see and things to do - that’s if you can squeeze any more into your packed week of tradtional music, song and dance!