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.

Michael Coleman (1891–1945) is regarded by many as the most influential Irish traditional musician of the 20thcentury. In New York in 1921, Coleman produced the first of over 40 commercial 78 rpm discs encompassing over 80 tracks of fiddle playing which have left an indelible mark on Irish traditional music. One hundred years after his first recording, Coleman’s influence on the tradition, in both a direct and an indirect way, can still be heard. 

Drawing from the Well Season 2 continues with leading instrumentalists, singers and dancers engaging with archival material to create new work.

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

On Culture Night, 18 September 2020, 'Duala: a film' by Jack Talty and Maurice Gunning, premiered online at ITMA and in Glór, Ennis, Co. Clare. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions the Q/A session following the screening in Glór was restricted to a very small live audience.  We are especially delighted to join the film makers in this blog, to find out more about the making of 'Duala: a film', commissioned by ITMA and Clare Arts Office.

A celebration of the life of fiddle player Ciarán O'Reilly by his friend and fellow musician Mick O'Connor.

ITMA archivist, Maeve Gebruers, reports on ITMA's 2020 Heritage Council Project, Boscaí Ceoil.

New compositions commissioned by The Rolling Wave on RTÉ radio, with support from the Irish Traditional Music Archive. 

Leading instrumentalists, singers and dancers have been commissioned to spend time engaging with collections of their choice in ITMA and to then produce something new that can be shared with the public.