Tralee in October

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. Liam O’Brien is a highly acclaimed concertina player from Miltown Malbay, County Clare, renowned for his exceptional musicianship and dedication to traditional Irish music. Growing up in a musical family, Liam started his musical journey on the tin whistle before switching to the concertina, which he studied extensively under the guidance of Noel Hill. He furthered his passion and skill by completing a degree in Irish Music & Dance at the University of Limerick. Liam’s talent has taken him across the globe, performing and teaching in Europe, Africa, and Japan, and sharing his deep knowledge of the Clare concertina tradition with students worldwide. Since 2012, he has been an integral part of the Brid O’Donohue School of Music, where his popularity as a concertina and banjo tutor continues to grow. In 2017, Liam was honoured with the prestigious TG4 Young Musician of the Year award, recognising his outstanding contributions to traditional Irish music and his exceptional skill on the concertina. His playing is celebrated for its fluidity, ornamentation, and authentic Clare style, capturing the spirit of one of Ireland’s most vibrant musical regions. Liam O’Brien’s commitment to teaching and performing ensures that the rich heritage of the Irish concertina is passed on and continues to thrive with new generations of musicians.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. George McAdam is a tenor banjo player from Ballybay, Co. Monaghan and is recognized as one of the foremost banjo players of his generation. A dedicated performer and tutor, George won the Senior All-Ireland Banjo Championship in 2015 and holds numerous All-Ireland titles across banjo, mandolin, and céilí drums. He is highly sought-after both in Ireland and internationally for his energetic playing and expert teaching at festivals and summer schools, including Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Joe Mooney, and Scoil Éigse. George is also a member of the celebrated Blackwater Céilí Band, winners of the All-Ireland Céilí Band title in 2018, and has performed widely on RTÉ and TG4. His musical family includes two sisters who are also accomplished musicians. Known for nurturing traditional music in the region, George continues to inspire students and audiences alike

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. Dermot Byrne is one of Ireland’s most outstanding traditional accordion players, hailing from the Inishowen peninsula in Co. Donegal. He began playing the accordion from the early age of four, learning from his father and many renowned Donegal fiddle players. Dermot became known as a child prodigy, winning several titles early on and playing with great subtlety and a faultless ear. He is especially acclaimed for his mastery of the Donegal style but is versatile across other traditions such as French musette and South American music. Dermot was a member of the renowned Irish traditional band Altan from 1994 to 2013 and has collaborated with many celebrated musicians, including Sharon Shannon, Paul Brady, and Stephane Grappelli. In 2013, he received the prestigious TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year award. Dermot continues to perform, record, and teach, inspiring new generations of traditional Irish musicians.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. Bríd Harper is regarded as one of the leading Irish traditional fiddle players of modern times. Originally from Castlefinn, Co. Donegal, she grew up immersed in a rich musical environment and began learning the fiddle at the age of nine. Bríd’s style is deeply rooted in the Donegal tradition, known for its intricate ornamentation and powerful expression. She achieved great recognition in 1988 by winning three major titles: Senior All Ireland Fiddle Champion, Fiddler of Dooney, and Oireachtas na Gaeilge. Bríd has performed extensively both as a soloist and in collaboration with prominent traditional musicians. She is part of the group UAINE and the all-female fiddle collective SíFiddlers, celebrating the Donegal fiddle tradition. Her teaching focuses on learning by ear, encouraging students to listen closely and embrace traditional styles. Bríd continues to inspire with her deep knowledge, expressive playing, and dedication to preserving and evolving Irish fiddle music.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am Hailing from Brosna, Co, Kerry, Greta began playing music at the age of 4. She has a special love of Polkas and Slides, which are very popular in the Sliabh Luachra area. She teaches in Brosna CCE as well as being the resident concertina teacher in Killarney School of Music.  Greta has had great success at the Fleadh over the years in solo, duet, bands and group competitions. She has visited many locations all over Europe, the United States and Russia performing with Gaelforce Dance, Celtic Legends and other groups. She has worked extensively with Siamsa Tire over the years taking on the role of show supervisor in their season ever summer In recent years she has teamed up with Jessie Healy (fiddle) and Eoin Murphy (guitar) to form a trio. 

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. Bryan O'Leary is a leading button accordion player from Tureencahill, Gneeveguilla, County Kerry, deeply rooted in the rich Sliabh Luachra tradition. He comes from a renowned musical family—his grandfather, the late Johnny O'Leary, was a legendary accordion player celebrated for his lifetime contributions to Irish traditional music. Bryan’s style is heavily influenced by this heritage, embracing the rhythmic and melodic nuances characteristic of Sliabh Luachra music. Starting the accordion at age 10, shortly after his grandfather’s passing, Bryan quickly developed into a skilled and passionate musician. He is a well-experienced performer who plays regularly across various venues and has appeared on major stages such as the I.N.E.C in Killarney, The Button Factory in Dublin, and internationally in Sweden. Bryan has also had the honour of playing for President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin. His music has been featured on prominent Irish media outlets, including RTÉ Radio na Gaeltachta, RTÉ Radio 1, and TG4 on programmes like Oireachtas na hÉireann, The Rolling Wave, and Geántraí. Bryan’s deep understanding of the history and repertoire of Sliabh Luachra music, combined with his fine rhythmic sensibility and soaring musicality, have earned him the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Young Musician of the Year title. Beyond his performances, Bryan is recognised as a serious music historian, passionately studying and preserving his grandfather’s vast collection of tunes. This rare combination of artistry and scholarship places him in a distinctive position within the tradition, carrying forward the legacy of one of Ireland’s greatest accordion families while making his own mark on the vibrant Irish music scene.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. Keelan McGrath is an award-winning button accordion player from Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary, whose talent and artistry have made him one of the most exciting musicians in the new wave of Irish traditional music. Coming from a musical family, Keelan began playing accordion at a young age, quickly developing a distinctive style marked by both technical precision and emotional expressiveness. His impressive record includes multiple Fleadh Cheoil All-Ireland titles, with Keelan capturing the Senior Button Accordion title in 2022. He is also celebrated as the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal, a highly respected accolade in Irish music that recognizes exceptional ability and interpretation in traditional performance. Beyond his solo success, Keelan is a founding member of the powerfully dynamic group Peter Street. This ensemble brings together some of Ireland’s finest young musicians, and is known for fresh, innovative arrangements and high-energy performances that stay true to traditional roots while embracing contemporary influences. With Keelan’s accordion at the heart of their sound, Peter Street has rapidly become a standout act at major festivals and sessions, drawing praise for their creativity and musicianship.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. Matt Cranitch is internationally recognised as one of the leading exponents of Irish traditional fiddle playing, especially the Sliabh Luachra style rooted in the musical heritage of counties Cork and Kerry. Originally from Cork, Matt has devoted decades to researching, performing, and teaching this distinctive tradition, celebrated for its lively polkas and slides. He is a founding member of the acclaimed band Sliabh Notes and is especially well known for his long-standing musical partnership with the renowned accordionist Jackie Daly. Together, Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly have recorded several highly praised albums and performed at festivals and concerts across Ireland and abroad, showcasing the rich repertoire and authentic sound of Sliabh Luachra music to international audiences. Alongside his successful performing career, Matt is a respected educator, having lectured at University College Cork and published extensively on Irish traditional music. His workshops are renowned for their depth and clarity, combining historical insight with practical teaching, and his infectious enthusiasm inspires students to master and appreciate the Sliabh Luachra fiddle tradition.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am Emma O’Leary is a gifted fiddle player from Scartaglen, County Kerry, widely recognised for her vibrant and authentic interpretation of Irish traditional music. Growing up immersed in the rich musical landscape of Kerry, Emma developed her fiddle skills from an early age, drawing inspiration from the region’s unique fiddle style characterized by its flowing ornamentation and rhythmic dynamism. Emma has performed extensively at major festivals, concerts, and sessions throughout Ireland and abroad, earning accolades for her expressive playing and deep connection to the music. Her style combines technical skill with heartfelt musicality, bringing both energy and nuance to her performances. In addition to performing, Emma is a passionate teacher, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Through workshops and classes, she shares her knowledge of technique, repertoire, and the cultural context of Irish fiddle music, inspiring students to develop their own voice within the tradition. Emma O’Leary continues to contribute to the vibrancy and continuity of traditional Irish music, representing the rich fiddle heritage of Kerry with pride and creativity.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. Libby McCrohan is widely celebrated as one of the foremost bouzouki players in contemporary Irish traditional music. Hailing from Dublin, her playing is distinguished by a deeply sensitive, nuanced, and rhythmically sophisticated approach to accompaniment, which sets her apart as a masterful and highly influential musician in the tradition. She plays an original round-back Greek bouzouki, and her style is notably inspired by the regulator playing of uilleann pipers—an approach that incorporates the intricate chordal and rhythmic support typical of uilleann pipe regulators, lending her accompaniment a unique blend of harmonics and subtlety that deeply complements the melody. Libby’s artistry has earned her a stellar reputation both in Ireland and internationally. She has performed extensively at prestigious festivals, concerts, and sessions, captivating audiences with her intuitive musicality and refined technique. She is a sought-after collaborator, having contributed her exceptional accompaniment skills to landmark albums including Lisa O’Neill’s Heard a Long Gone Song and Páraic Mac Donnchadha’s Not Before Time… 39 Years in the Making, both critically acclaimed works in the Irish music scene.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am Please note that all workshops will take place on College Road, Castleisland. Classes will be held in either St. Patrick's Boys' School or Gaelscoil Aogáin. On the morning of each class, clear signage will be in place to indicate the correct venue. Colm Broderick is widely recognised as one of the leading young uilleann pipers in Irish traditional music today. Hailing from Graiguecullen, County Carlow, his career has been distinguished by a deep commitment to the piping tradition and a remarkable talent for performance. Colm was awarded the TG4 Young Musician of the Year (Ceoltóir Óg) for 2025, marking him out as one of the most exciting talents of his generation. He is a multiple All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil champion and also received the coveted Seán Ó Riada Bonn Óir Medal, reflecting the respect he commands within the traditional music community. His piping style is rooted in the classic tradition, known for its exquisite ornamentation, expressive phrasing, and technical mastery. Colm has been honoured with the opportunity to perform on the historic pipes of the late Liam O’Flynn, an experience reserved only for the most outstanding pipers. A frequent performer and tutor at festivals and workshops, Colm is passionate about sharing his love of uilleann piping and nurturing the next generation of musicians. His teaching emphasises musicality, repertoire, and the unique characteristics of the instrument, inspiring students through both example and encouragement. Colm Broderick continues to enrich Irish traditional music with his artistry, dedication, and innovative approach—honouring the past while shaping the future of uilleann piping.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am. Órlaith McAuliffe is celebrated as one of the foremost Irish flute players of her generation, admired for her exceptional technical command, vibrant musicality, and energetic style. Raised in London in a family steeped in Irish music, with roots in Killarney, Co. Kerry, Órlaith began her musical journey on the tin whistle, guided by her mother, and progressed to the flute at age nine, developing a distinctive voice that blends tradition with innovation. Her accomplishments are remarkable: Órlaith has won more than twenty All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil gold medals, with championship titles on both flute and tin whistle. She draws inspiration from legendary musicians including Matt Molloy, Michael McGoldrick, and Kevin Crawford, and her playing is noted for its lightning-fast ornamentation, rhythmic drive, and deep emotional resonance. Órlaith’s artistry has brought her to stages across Ireland, Britain, and beyond, performing at major festivals, concerts, and sessions, and collaborating with top performers in the scene. Beyond performing, Órlaith is a sought-after teacher, delivering workshops, classes, and masterclasses for students of all ages. She emphasizes listening, repertoire, ornamentation, and creativity, sharing her passion and expertise to inspire the next generation of musicians. In recognition of her achievements and influence, she was awarded the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana (Young Musician of the Year) in 2016.

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The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 26th of October at 11am This is open to all instruments.

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Plan your trip to Sliabh Luachra Repertoire Workshop - Paudie O'Connor (All Instruments) with our AI-powered travel planner. Get personalized itineraries and recommendations for your visit to Tralee. Book tickets through our platform.