A monthly series showcasing compositions of tunes by contemporary composers in the traditional idiom.

To mark the publication of the second edition of 'The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin Traditional Irish Singer', editor and grandson of Bess Cronin, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, shares insights into the life and legacy of the iconic singer.

Uilleann piper Máire Ní Ghráda reminisces on a day of music in 1975 captured by Cork photographer, the late Domhnall Ó Máirtín. Domhnall's collection, a rich visual history of Cork’s musical life in the 1960s, 70s and 80s was generously donated to ITMA by the Ó Máirtín Family.

Catherine Ann Cullen is the inaugural Poet in Residence at Poetry Ireland, and an award-winning poet, songwriter and children's writer. ITMA is delighted to host a new blog on her recent research into the life of an all but forgotten 19th century Dublin street poet and ballad seller, Joseph Sadler. As well as enriching our knowledge of Dublin history and song, this substantial piece of research provides important context for Sadler material found in ballad sheets held in the ITMA Collection.

ITMA hosts a number of interns as part of their professional career development. During 2021 Annie Hughes, a TCD MPhil in Digital Humanities and Culture student, focused on the digital infrastructure of the Góilín Song Project.

During National Heritage Week, 14–22 August 2021, the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) shared online some wonderful images from its 2021 milestone collections: Cnuasach an Bhreathnaigh (the Breandán Breathnach Collection) and the Gráinne Yeats Collection.

Dr. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile introduces the story of how American folk music collector Sidney Robertson Cowell documented traditional music in the Aran Islands and Carna in 1955 and 1956 and shares a detailed itemized catalogue of the audio recordings in multiple digital formats. She also presents lists of women music collectors from Ireland and the United States of America.

Celebrating the life and musical times of a fourth generation uilleann piper and pipe maker: a blog by Kevin and Caitríona Rowsome.

In September 2015 fiddle player and author Caoimhín Mac Aoidh donated a collection of copies and transcriptions of Pádraig O’Keeffe manuscripts to ITMA. In the following blog Caoimhín outlines the origins of this collection and his long-held desire to make the collection available to the Irish traditional music community.

Learn to play a selection of 21 tunes chosen from the Pádraig O’Keeffe manuscripts at the Irish Traditional Music Archive by fiddle player Andrea Palandri for World Fiddle Day 2021.

Each year ITMA offers interns from different disciplines an opportunity to gain experience in their particular area of interest or career development. Mentored by ITMA staff, interns are encouraged to contribute to specific projects, and leave their mark on the archiving of Irish traditional music.  Today we meet Céline Jourdan who tells us a little about herself and her experience working in ITMA.

To mark the anniversary of the death of fiddle player Andy Dickson, ITMA presents a special tribute from his partner Anne Bailie and fiddle player Danny Diamond, focusing on his remarkable contribution as a composer within the tradition. The full extent of Andy's composition work only became publicly known after his death in April 2020. His tune collection numbers over 2,200 unique compositions and a further 3,500+ arrangements or versions of traditional tunes.

Darren Loughran is a guitarist and is studying for an MA in Musicology and Performance in Maynooth University.  He has researched and presented this guest blog as part of his coursework.

To mark the anniversary of the death of virtuoso uilleann piper, Liam O'Flynn (1945–2018), piper, composer and artist, Barry Kerr, reflects on the time he spent as recipient of the Liam O'Flynn Award from the Arts Council of Ireland/National Concert Hall in 2020. That time included investigating the Liam O’Flynn collection at ITMA wherein he found much inspiration.

To mark International Women's Day 2021 ITMA is delighted to publish this special blog in honour of fiddle player Aggie Whyte (1920–1979). Compiled by her grandson Michael Harrison it is a most fitting celebration on this day to honour this Galway woman's unique contribution to Irish traditional music.