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Gort music school to remember gifted musician E-mail
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Wednesday, 21 February 2007
‘The Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music’ which was initiated in response to the tragic death of a 19-year-old NUIG medical student in February 2006, takes place this weekend in Gort.
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Some of the finest teachers of traditional Irish music are lined up for the classes.
A native of Knockmeal between Gort and Crusheen, Joseph Browne was a remarkably gifted musician who played the fiddle, traditional and classical piano and the concertina. He delighted in arranging and composing music and was also a talented dancer. In the months before he died, he had commenced teaching the fiddle to a large number of students in the Moycullen branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.

The school commences tomorrow (Thursday) and runs until Sunday. Classes will take place in Gort Community School from 10am to 1pm, Thursday to Saturday, as well as workshops each afternoon with such luminaries of the traditional music world as Chris Droney, Joe Ryan and Charlie Lennon.

Some of the finest teachers of traditional Irish music are lined up for the classes. These include Nicky McAuliffe, Oisin MacDiarmada and Johnny Kelly (fiddle), Tommy Keane (tin whistle), Eamonn Cotter (concert flute), Anne McAuliffe (concertina), Danny Mahoney (accordion) and Mary Shannon (banjo). The number of participants in each class will be limited, so it is advisable to book in advance. Booking forms are available from 087-0674335 or can be downloaded and printed from the website www.josephbrowne.org.

The official opening of the school will take place in the Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort, on Thursday at 8pm, where ‘The Joseph Browne Memorial Lecture’ will be presented by the renowned musician, Geraldine Cotter. This will be followed by a launch of Joseph’s music titled ‘Light Touch Dancing Bow – The Music of Joseph Browne’.

On Friday night, the legendary Kilfenora Ceili Band takes the stage in Gort Community Centre. One of the major highlights of the weekend is Saturday night’s concert in the centre, which promises the very best of traditional music, song and dance. It features Manus McGuire, Garry O’Briain, Kate Purcell, Planxty Ui Ruairc and Sliabh Notes.

Joseph Browne’s anniversary mass takes place on Sunday in Crusheen Church at 1pm. This will be followed by a visit to his grave, where a musical tribute will be played. The first ‘Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music’ will close with a farewell session in the Lady Gregory Hotel.

As part of the ‘Joseph Browne Spring School of Music’, it is intended to establish a number of traditional music bursaries in Joseph’s name. These would allow students from the Galway/Clare area to attend other traditional music schools. Details of these bursaries and how to apply for them will be announced during the spring school.




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