The calendar year now coming to an end has been the most productive to date for the field-recording expeditions of the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Staff have recorded on audio and video in the course of the year at Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh in Ballyferriter, Co Kerry; the Inishowen International Folk Song and Ballad Seminar, Ballyliffen, Co Donegal; Cruinniú na bhFliúit, Cúil Aodha, Co Cork; Sean-Nós Cois Life, Dublin city; the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, Derry city; the Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare; the Donegal Fiddle Summer School, Glencolmcille, Co Donegal; Scoil na gCláirseach, Kilkenny city; the Frank Harte Festival, Dublin city; the Glenties Fiddlers’ Weekend, Co Donegal; the William Kennedy Piping Festival, Armagh city; and the Ballybunion Chanters Festival, Co Kerry. In addition, a number of stand-alone events were recorded in the field, including two academic symposia in Queen’s University, Belfast and concerts in Dublin and Sligo. A special ITMA 25 lunch-time fiddle concert by Paddy Glackin and Dermot McLaughlin was filmed in 73 Merrion Square, and a separate programme of audio and video recording was also pursued during the year in its studio there.

Performances on video recorded on the 2012 ITMA field-recording trips – just a sample of what is available – are presented below. Staff involved in the recordings were Danny Diamond (Field Recordings Officer), Brian Doyle, Ian Lynch, Elaina Solon, Mícheál Ó Catháin, and Treasa Harkin. All of the footage recorded during the year (and earlier ITMA video field recordings) have been digitised to user-friendly formats, and can be freely accessed for viewing in 73 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

With thanks to all the performers who have given permission for their music to be recorded in the first instance and also presented here.

Nicholas Carolan, Danny Diamond, Brian Doyle, Ian Lynch, Elaina Solon, Mícheál Ó Catháin & Treasa Harkin, 1 December 2012