Irish Traditional Music Archive / Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann

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Irish Traditional Music Archive / Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann ITMA is a national public archive for Irish traditional music, song and dance ITMA is registered with the Charities Regulatory Authority (RCN 20023218).

20/08/2026

Our latest interview in the Queally's Series is with sisters Ruth and Libby McCrohan. Ruth is an accomplished flute player, while Libby is recognised for her sensitive bouzouki accompaniment and musicianship. Both are members of the Len Collective and are regular figures in Dublin’s session scene, often playing in venues such as The Cobblestone and Pipers Corner. Listen to the full interview and tunes: https://www.itma.ie/playlists/queallys/

Lucky in love, reel / Ruth McCrohan, flute ; Libby McCrohan, bouzouki

19/08/2026

We’re kicking off our Heritage Week events with a talk and recital from Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh about Westmeath concertina player William J. Mullally, who made the first recordings of Irish traditional music on the concertina 100 years ago.

17/08/2026

This month's Saothar composer is Donagh McElligot, a concertina player and music teacher from Lixnaw, Co. Kerry. We're featuring five of Donagh's original compositions. Eplore: https://www.itma.ie/saothar/donagh-mcelligott/

A reel for Dá [comp. Donagh McElligott] / Donagh McElligott, concertina

Saothar is ITMA's monthly online series showcasing tunes, songs and dances by contemporary composers in the tradition. To facilitate learning, each composition is made available along with an interactive score, ABC notation, audio and video recordings at both fast and slow pace, and a downloadable PDF version of the score. Learn more and view all our past composers at itma.ie/exhibitions/saothar

13/08/2026

As part of National Heritage Week 2026, we're hosting a special free lunchtime screening of ITMA and TG4's acclaimed documentary Cartlann Christy Moore. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with ITMA Archivist Maeve Gebruers and Heritage Council CEO Virginia Teehan.

📆 Thursday, 20 August 1-3pm
📍 Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield

Tickets are free but be sure to book your place in advance: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/irishtraditionalmusicarchive/2339454

12/08/2026

Our latest interview in the Queally's Series is with Diarmuid Ó Meachair, an accordion and melodeon player and sean-nós singer from Cúil Aodha in the Múscraí Gaeltacht of County Cork. Listen to the full interview and tunes: https://www.itma.ie/playlists/queallys/

The road to Lisdoonvarna, reel ; Joe O'Malley's favourite, reel / Diarmuid Ó Meachair, accordion

ITMA is once again hosting free lunchtime events as part of National Heritage Week 2026. This year's events include: 📆 ...
11/08/2026

ITMA is once again hosting free lunchtime events as part of National Heritage Week 2026. This year's events include:

📆 Wednesday, 19th August, 1-2pm
📍 ITMA Library
A lecture and recital from concertina player Micheál Ó Raghallaigh celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first recordings of Irish traditional music on the concertina by William J. Mullally.

📆 Thursday, 20th August, 1-3pm
📍 Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin 7
An exclusive free screening in the Lighthouse Cinema of ITMA and TG4’s acclaimed 2025 documentary Cartlann Christy Moore followed by a Q&A.

Both events are free, but there are limited spaces available so be sure to book your spot in advance: https://www.itma.ie/events/heritage-week-2026/

10/08/2026

Recorded during his visit to ITMA’s office in Miltown Malbay, Hajime Takahashi shares the story of his life growing up in Japan, how he discovered a love for Irish traditional music, and the musical journey that followed.

His story is a wonderful reflection of the connections between Ireland and Japan, and of music’s power to cross cultures, languages and borders.

Full interview coming soon on our YouTube channel. 🎶

08/08/2026

Each week, ITMA is releasing a new video on YouTube from our Queally's Interview Series. In June, we released with this interview with West Limerick's Patsy Moloney, widely regarded as one of the finest flute players in Irish traditional music, known for both his musicianship and deep knowledge of the tradition.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel () to get notified of new interview releases every week, and visit our website to catch up on all the videos released so far: https://www.itma.ie/playlists/queallys/

06/08/2026

Apart from Paddy O’Brien himself, the most knowledgeable person about the 1,500 tunes in the Paddy O’Brien Tune Collection has to be Mark Bickford. Over the last year or so Mark has listened to every note from the collection, either transcribing tunes himself or proofing the transcriptions of others. In a new playlist on itma.ie, Mark has curated tunes from Paddy's collection that have made an impression on him and that he's enjoyed transcribing and playing. Listen to the playlist: https://www.itma.ie/playlists/mark-bickford-tune-selection/

The Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection is the initial cornerstone of Port, ITMA's new online interactive tune resource. Explore Port in full at itma.ie/port

The Faranfore lassies, reel / Paddy O'Brien, accordion

05/08/2026

The latest interview in our Queally's series is with Mairéad Casey, a set and sean-nós dance teacher from Newtowncashel in south-west Longford. Mairéad grew up in a musical household where traditional music, singing and dancing were central to family and community life. Her parents, Bridgie and James Harley, were both musicians, and she first learned to dance to her father’s fiddle playing.

Watch the full interview: https://www.itma.ie/playlists/queallys/

The Newtowncashel step / Mairéad Casey, dance
The maids of Castlebar, reel / Caitlín Nic Gabhann, concertina

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