Recitals / Concerts

Monday, 13th July, St Brigid’s Hall

40th Year Celebratory Concert, 8 pm

Tuesday, 14th July, The May Queen

Fiddle, Flute & Whistle Recital, 8 pm

Wednesday, 15th July, The May Queen Banjo, Button Accordion, Concertina & Guitar Recital, 8 pm

Thursday, 16th July, The May Queen Bodhráns, Singing & Lilting, Uilleann Pipes & Harp Recital, 8 pm

Friday, 17th July, The May Queen

Grand Traditional Concert, 8 pm

This July we will be celebrating the 40th Year of the South Sligo Summer School and to mark this milestone, a very special event is planned for the Monday night - our Tribute Concert will feature the music, song and dance of North Donegal, North Leitrim, North Galway & South Sligo, honouring the four founders of the Summer School and their places of origin.

The late Rita Flannery was born in Carrigart on the Mulroy Peninsula in Co. Donegal. Raised in a Gaeltacht area, Rita retained a great love for her native language as well as for the traditions of sean nós singing and uilleann piping, the latter having been included in the summer school programming right from the beginning. Rita lived here in Tubbercurry for a long number of years where she was directly involved in setting up many innovative community projects and organisations, including the South Sligo Summer School which she remained actively engaged with throughout the remainder of her life.

Born and raised in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, the late Geraldine Murtagh was also part and parcel of the South Sligo Summer School from the very outset as well as being immersed in many other community activities in her adopted town of Tubbercurry and she kept up her involvement in the summer school right through until her illness and untimely death dictated otherwise. Geraldine is especially remembered for her great enthusiasm and appreciation of the dancing and loved to do a few impromptu steps herself at the back of the hall during the workshops and céilithe.

Michael Severs, just recently deceased, came from Tuam in North Galway where as a young lad he was a member of the local pipe band. A great lover of Gaelic games, hurling in particular, Michael contributed enormously to community life in Tubbercurry and the surrounding area. Like Rita and Geraldine, Michael was directly involved in the South Sligo Summer School from Day One and he attended his last summer school meeting in the early autumn of 2025 just weeks before his death.

From Culfadda, Co. Sligo and living in Bunnanadden for many years, Founding Member Marie Flannery has been continuously involved in the South Sligo Summer School since its inception. Growing up in an area steeped in traditional music, Marie has lived in South Sligo all her life, surrounded by friends, relatives and neighbours deeply connected to the local tradition. Her contribution to community life in her adopted parish of Bunnanadden and Killavil has been immense and she continues to play an active part in many initiatives for the betterment of her local community as well as leading the South Sligo Summer School into a new decade.

Tickets will come on sale online in the next few weeks for the Monday Night Tribute Concert in St. Brigid’s Hall on Monday, 13th July. Link will be available on the Home Page of our website.

Tickets for the Grand Traditional Concert on Friday, 17th July can be bought online now. Please click on The Registration button on the Home Page of our website.

Payment on the door on the night for the Recitals on Tuesday, 14th, Wednesday, 15th & Thursday, 16th July. Registered students - Free Admission on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday nights.

Tribute Nights Down The Years:

Thursday 18th July 2002: Andy Davey

Monday 14th July 2003: Dervish

Monday 12th July 2004: Tommy & Ted McGowan

Monday 11th July 2005: Tubbercurry Musicians & Friends, with a special presentation to Pake Meehan

Monday 10th July 2006; The O’Donnell Family

Monday 16th July 2007: Peter Horan

Monday 14th July 2008: Harry McGowan

Monday 13th July 2009: Sheila O’Dowd

Monday12th July 2010: Paddy Ryan

Monday 11th July 2011: Téada

Monday 16th July 2012: Brian Gallahar