GEATA – Galway TradFest
Project Name
GEATA – Galway TradFest
Project Partners
Music Generation Galway County, Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB)
Role of Galway Culture Company
Funder
Strategic Aim
This project falls under our second strategic aim;
Support and Develop Place-based Cultural Programming
Project Description
While Galway is known the world over for its creative community and its noted exponents of Irish traditional music, song and dance, unlike many other counties it doesn’t host an internationally recognised annual traditional music festival that embraces the County nor an extensive traditional music masterclass series in the manner that is now planned with Galway TradFest 2024. It is hoped that Galway TradFest and its educational programme (GEATA) will become an annual event which will be celebrated county-wide, and overtime attract visitors from across Ireland and the world.
The name ‘geata’ (gate/gateway) symbolises that what is planned, through high-level masterclasses, mentoring, instrument taster sessions, performances, theatre and other programme activities, will represent a gateway to access and opportunity for children and young people from Galway and also those visiting the area for the event.
Project Outcomes – what we expect from this project
The inaugural Galway TradFest, a new initiative by Music Generation Galway County, will take place across Galway from Monday 11th – Sunday 17th, November 2024.
The inaugural event will feature concerts, masterclasses in music, song and dance, a festival session trail, instrument taster sessions, theatre, showcase opportunities and a range of Irish traditional music activities which will give Galway’s children and young people unparalleled access to high-level Irish traditional music opportunities at home in Galway.
On the morning of November 17th more than 15 of Ireland’s best known Irish traditional performers and tutors will deliver masterclasses to children and young people at Coláiste Bhaile Chláir in Galway’s Gaeltacht region. This comprehensive range of masterclasses includes tutors such as ALDOC’s Alan Doherty (Flute), a sean nós singing workshop with Bláth na hÓige, Galway’s Fergal Scahill mentoring on fiddle, alongside TG4 Gradam Ceoil Winners Ryan Molloy (accompaniment), Conor Connolly (accordion) & Sharon Howley (cello). Founder of trad supergroup Lúnasa, Trevor Hutchinson will provide a masterclass on accompanying trad music on double bass, while multi-instrumentalist Stephen Doherty from Foxford, Co Mayo will give a masterclass on how to record traditional Irish music. Other tutors include Brendan Loughran & Edel Fox (concertina), Aisling Lyons (harp), Theresa O’Grady (Banjo), Tara Howley (uilleann pipes), Sinéad Mc Kenna (fiddle), Jos Kelly (accordion), Colm Phelan (bodhrán) and Richie Delahunty (guitar). Workshops on dance will be delivered by the renowned sean nós dancers The Devane Brothers & Emma O’ Sullivan. Full details of these masterclasses are available at www.galwaytradfest.ie.
How this project is funded
Events as part of Galway TradFest and its educational programme (GEATA) will be produced with support from a variety of Music Generation Galway County’s funding partners including Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB, lead partner), Galway County Council, the Department of Education, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, U2, The Ireland Funds, the Arts Council/An Comhairle Ealaíon, Ealaín na Gaeltachta’s Cuisle programme, Creative Ireland’s Local Creative Youth Partnership, Galway Culture Company, University of Galway, Galway Rural Development, Foróige, Tusla/CYPSC, Involve, Youth Work Ireland (Galway), Forum Connemara CLG and TG4 amongst others.
Duration
Ongoing
