Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance

Now in its 26th year, the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance returns to the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick this 20th June – 1st July. Following on from the success of their 2021 virtual programme, this year will see the highly anticipated return of face-to-face tuition with the traditional two-week course*. Blas, directed by Pamela Cotter, has firmly established itself as one of Ireland’s most prestigious university accredited summer schools, drawing students from all over the world to spend two weeks gaining access to the expertise of some of Ireland’s finest artists, which in previous years included Dónal Lunny, John Carty, Siobhán Peoples, Kevin Crawford, Louise Mulcahy, Karan Casey, Jim Higgins, Ryan Molloy, Colin Dunne, and Ciara Sexton, to name but a few. In addition to expert tuition and masterclasses, the two-week programme includes a range of activities such as lectures and public seminars, Irish language classes, daily lunchtime concerts featuring Blas tutors, evening concerts, nightly sessions, céilithe, field trips, and above all, the unique opportunity to share tunes with some of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians. The Blas programme is also worth three academic credits or six ECTS credits towards an undergraduate degree, which makes Blas unique within the world of traditional music summer schools in that the study of Irish traditional music, song and dance can count as a modular component of a university degree. Blas is now extending its offering to students by recognising and recommending a further week of insight into all aspects of Irish traditional music through participation in The Scope of Irish Traditional Music (Dúchas an Cheoil) at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay Co.Clare in early July. More details on The Scope of Irish Traditional Music are available at: www.scoilsamhraidhwillieclancy.com

For further information on all aspects of the Blas Summer School, visit www.blas.ie or contact Pamela Cotter, Director, by email (Pamela.Cotter@ul.ie).

*Subject to national and sectorial covid restrictions.