Traditional Music Tuition!

In this area, the only music which is taught in Primary Schools, by the Education Board, is European Classical Music.

A group of my enthusiastic young students in Glenariff, enjoying an end of term alfresco Session. 
However, I spend my days as a music tutor in a number of Primary Schools in the Glens, from Glenarm through Waterfoot, Cushendall & along the coast in schools in Ballycastle, Portrush, Portstewart, Coleraine & Castlerock. So, at least in those schools, children are given an insight & appreciation of their own music.

Dick Glasgow during a Musical Presentation for school children on the History of Musical Instruments.
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Thankfully, a few Secondary Schools encourage their pupils to play Traditional Music, including St MacNissi's College, Carnlough, Dominican College, Portstewart & Dalriada Grammer School, Ballymoney.

Dominican College pupils playing in concert.

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Audio Clips:  Dominican College Pupils  

  Video:  Dominican College Pupils in concert

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Outside school hours, there are a number of groups who provide evening Traditional Music classes in the area. 
In Cushendall, the local Comhaltas group in conjunction with the Glens Traditions Group run classes from September to May for those wishing to play the Fiddle, Tin Whistle & Bodhran.


 Glinnte Aontroma
There are similar Comhaltas groups in Ballycastle & Dunloy.


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Classes for Traditional Music are also held in Bushmills by the Bushmills Ulster Scots Heritage group & in Ballymoney in the Ullans Centre by the Ullans Speakers Association.

Harp player Susan Bates with highland dancer Kerry Jordan, in the Ullans Centre, Ballymoney.

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Shared Tradition!

Some folks here, seem to be very keen to promote the notion that there are two different branches of Traditional Music played in Northern Ireland, but after living here for 20 years I have yet to see any evidence of this. When it comes to musicians who enjoy playing Traditional Music, what I have seen & heard though, are musicians who, like musicians the World over, simply learn & play tunes that they like the sound of.
So if you find yourself in amongst players of the Great Highland Bagpipe, it won't be long before you recognise a few Irish tunes in their repertoire. The same thing will happen if you find yourself sitting in with Fifers & by the same token, go to any so-called Irish Session in any music pub here & you are sure to hear a number of Scottish tunes being played.
This applies too whenever Traditional Singers gather here & this should come as no surprise to anyone, given the fact that people have been sailing to & fro across that very narrow stretch of water between Ulster & Scotland's Highlands & Islands for hundreds of years.
In some areas too, the radio reception is often far clearer from Scotland than from any Irish station.

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Here are three interesting quotes from a BBC Site which explored the 'Shared Tradition' concept, here in Northern Ireland.
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The Overview

"The Two Nations theory that there are two distinct races and therefore cultures on the island of Ireland, the Protestant planter and the Catholic gael, is very difficult to sustain."

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The Song Tradition

"When we come to study songs the situation is somewhat problematic.
The differences between Orange (or Ulsterman or Protestant or whatever other, sometimes pejorative, shorthand term you wish to use) and Green (or Irishman or Taig or Catholic or whatever) song are more apparent than real.
Even a cursory glance will show obvious and interesting similarities."
Brian Mullan

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The Orange Tradition

"So Orange music is really as Irish as anything else on this island, whatever that means, and possibly much more Irish than much of the stuff now peddled as being Irish. 

Two hundred years ago there was no other kind of music in this country than traditional music, at least as far as the ordinary people of either religion were concerned. 

The fifing and Lambeg tradition, perceived as an Orange, unionist thing, also existed on both sides of the divide at one time, with a common musical collection of tunes. 

The whole musical tradition associated with the Orange Order has its roots squarely in the dance and song traditions as well as the military traditions of Ireland, Scotland and England. 

But it is still part of Ireland's musical tradition."

Rev Gary Hastings

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Quotes taken from: 

 Shared Tradition 

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Traditional Music in the Glens of Antrim!

"Cushendall is frequently the venue for the Antrim county Fleadh Cheoil, held annually in June, which event has been particularly successful in this town. It is also the base for a new local initiative, established to promote traditional music, singing and dancing in the area. The Antrim Glens Traditions Group was founded in 1991 and promotes traditional singing, set-dancing and the teaching of various instruments. The Traditional Singers' Club (no guitars!) meets on the last Friday of each month during the winter in Cushendall (McCollam's Bar). 
Traditional Instrument classes in fiddle, accordion and tin whistle are held every Friday evening, September to May, and these are very well supported, especially by the younger generation. 
Regular Set Dance evenings are run by the Group in Cushendall as well as classes in Set Dancing. These activities are managed by a working committee of nine and are funded mainly by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland."


 McCollam's Bar {Johnny Joe's}

 Traditional Music in the Glens of Antrim!

 Video: Session in Johnny Joe's Pub, Cushendall

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