It is said that 'great oaks grow from small acorns', but when the seeds of Scoil Cheoil An Earraigh were sown in 2005, we did not think that it would grow to flower so quickly. This year, 2007, the classes were overflowing with students. The concerts were sold out. Educational activities took place that awoke, inspired and raised the hearts of those present. As Pound said long ago, "We had a great night for three days", though in our case it lasted four and for some who shall remain nameless five!

Matt Crannitch launched the festival in the museum on wednesday night. Full to the door, people heard music and singing from young and old, but if there is a single thing that will stick in people memory from that night, it was Matts rendition of the tune to a song he learned from Seán De h-Óra 30 years before. Bringing us back to that time, brought him back to life amongst us and if Seán was listening from the other side, he must have felt pride.

That same night, in Club An Mháistir, Tigh Uí Chatháin, it was Ciarán Ó Gealbháin from na Déise who was special guest amongst the singers. He sang a collection of songs from his own locality that marvelled those present and there was no shortage of willing listeners to hear the thirty or so songs sung.

Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Maidhc Ó Mainín, Fódhla Ní Chonchúir, Úna Nic Guidhir agus ceoltóirí eile ag seisiún i dTigh Uí Mhurchú ag an Scoil Cheoil.

Bríd UÍ Bhriain, múinteoir an rang ar an bhfeadóg stán, i mbun ceoil le cuid dos na daltaí agus múínteoirí eile ag ceann dos na seisiúin i dTigh Mhurphy.

The following morning 120 students gathered at the school, Scoil an Fheirtéaraigh, to register for the classes. This represented an impressive 50% increase in numbers over last year. Students aged from 10 to 70 participated in fiddle, accordian, Uillean pipes, feadóg mhór, tin whistle, sean-nós singing, bodhrán, banjo, guitar, and concertina classes. Demand was so great that we had to provide additional teachers for accordian, tin whistle, fiddle and sean-nós singing classes. There were few vacant spaces in the village as the students attended the classes, all through the medium of the Irish language. Those who spoke no Irish were were not left out as they shared the common language and love of music.

In the sean-nós singing, under the guidance of Áine Uí Laoithe, invited guest singers came each day to enrich the classes. On Thursday it was Ciarán Ó Gealbháin, on Friday, two from the group 'na Caipíní' Ben Ó Loingsigh and Tom Mhaurice Ó Súilleabháin and on Saturday it was Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich. The sean-nós singing class was one of those where a spectacular increase in numbers took place, rising from 3 last year to 18 this year.

Bríd Uí Bhriain agus a rang feadóg stán sa Mhúséam.

Caoimhín Ó Rathallaigh agus a rang veidhleadóirí in Óstán Cheann Sibéal

The fact that the songs and music taught at Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh are all local songs and tunes, or local versions of songs and tunes, handed down from generation to generation and still part of a rich and vibrant local culture, sets us apart from other schools of Irish traditional music and song. In a world that is becoming more and more homogenous, events like ours encourages and fosters pride in our own unique heritage. We don't say that our music is better than any other regions, but as Máirtín Ó Direáin said "Coimead greim ar do chranna foirtil" - keep a hold of the roots given to you. If ever the day comes that all music and song is the same throughout Ireland, we will be much the poorer for it, but I cannot believe it will happen now.

After lunch on Thursday there was a nice session in Tigh Uí Mhurchú with some of the teachers and students playing. That night Nicholas Carolan gave a wonderful talk on the Cannon James Goodman, with Mick O’Brien playing music from the Goodman collection. The event took place in Óstán Ceann Sibéal and you could have heard a pin drop when it was announced that 85 songs, gathered by the Cannon 150 years ago in his own hand, had been discovered in a house in England last summer. A treasure of local and national importance, returned to us from beyond the grave.

Breanndán Óbeaglaoich agus é díreach tar éis caipíní nua a bhronnadh ar lucht na gCaipíní ag ceolchoirm an Aoine ag an Scoil Cheoil i Halla na Feothanaí.

Cillian Ó Briain, ar chlé, lena dhaltaí ar na píob, sa Mhúséam ar an mBuailtín.

The following day, Friday, after the mornings classes, Paddy Cronin gave a rectial in Tigh an tSaorsaigh from two in the afternoon until well into the day. A student himself of Pádraig O’Keefe, Paddy received well deserved attention from those present. On Friday night there was a big concert in the Feothanach Hall with Na Caipíní, Na Campbells, Seán Garvey, The Mc Keons and Bobby Gardner rythmically supported by Colm Murphy on the bodhrán and the night was closed by the queen of sean nós dancing, Róisín Ní Mhainín from Conamara. Everyone got their moneys' worth with the variety of acts presented and it was Niamh Ní Bhaoíll, one of the schools directors who MC'd, fair play to her!

60 people participated in the dancing in the Sean Nós style on Saturday with Róisín Ní Mhainín having been much inspired by her performance the previous night. After the classes, at 1:30, the music students gathered into the hall at the national school where the biggest session ever seen in the region took place. Amongst those participating were Campbells (The father, the son and the holy spirit!), Bobby Gardner, Paddy Cronin, Colm Murphy, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Páidi Mhárthain along with the vast majority of the students that had attended classes over thr 3 days. It was a perfect finalé for the classes. All who had participated were enthused and appreciated the aims of Scoil Cheoil An Earraigh seeing what can be achieved when people assist one another - "Níl neart go cur le chéile".

An píobaire Mick O’Brien, le Nicholas Carolan ó Thaisce Ceol Dúchas na hÉíreann, agus Niamh Ní Bhaoill, duine de stiúrthóirí na Féile.

Cuid don slua a bhi i láthair ag léacht Nicholas Carolan faoin gCanónach James Goodman.

The night darkened, and after Ireland hammered the 'old enemy' England in a six-nations game of rugby at Croke Park, Halla Na Feothanaí was filled to the doors to hear Cór Chúil Aodha, Muíntir Uí Bhriain, Neil Ní Chróinín, Peadar O’ Loughlin with Geraldine and Éamon Cotter and finally, to replace Joe Derrane who could not come this year, Frankie Gavin with accompaniment from Carl Hession and Tim Eady played fiery music that surprised and put soul into all present.

Yes, there was a fourth night that went on 'till morning and many of those who were present for the Uí Riada mass had "Pócaí Follamh agus Clioginn tínn" (empty pockets and a sore head!) but those who made the effort were rewarded by an atmosphere created by the Cúil Aodha choir that cannot be described in writing. It was the final official event of Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh, but that is not to say that it was the end to the music as many continued to to play in the village during the day and indeed into the small hours...

Paddy Cronin agus Caoimhin Ó Rathallaigh i mbun ceoil i dTigh an tSaorsaigh

Bríd Uí Bhriain, Cillian Ó Briain agus Maidhc Ó Mainín ag baint sásamh as Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh.

The musical heritage that is left to us is rich and I can think of no better way to celebrate it than as we did at Scoil Ceoil An Earraigh in Corca Dhuibhne. May God give the good health to do the same next year.

Go dtuga Dia an tsláinte dhúinn an rud céanna a dhéanamh an bhliain seo chughainn.

Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich agus Niamh Ní Bhaoill