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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Laois man Robert Harvey among those in the line up
Final preparations are being made for the first ever Spink Music Festival Inspiring in Abbeyleix
The organisers Spink Comhaltas say the festival features nine of the best tutors in music and singing from around the country, including two musicians from Laois.
They say master music classes will be offered across a range of instruments – whistle, flute, fiddle, accordion, concertina, banjo, harp, uileann pipes, and voice. The tutors are Alan Finn, the renowned Granville sisters Aoife and Deirdre, Greta Curtin, Thomas Ahern, Jason McGuinness, Muireann Ní Shé, Robert Harvey, Molly Donnery and David Vesey.
The festival, which will be based around intensive, instrument-specific master classes over two days in Scoil Mhuire, Abbeyleix – covering flute, whistle, harp, fiddle, banjo, accordion, pipes, concertina and singing. These master classes are specifically targeted at intermediate/advanced musicians. It will also feature a first-class music concert of all of the tutors in the atmospheric surroundings of St Michael’s Church in Abbeyleix on the Saturday evening.
Co-chairpersons of Spink Comhaltas, Úna Aylward and Genevieve Bennett, noted that because of the intensive fundraising done by Spink Comhaltas as well as support from EirGrid via its Laois-Kilkenny Community Fund, this Festival is subsidised for all musicians attending. The Festival is open to all musicians, not just in Laois, but across the Midlands and further afield.
Spink Comhaltas provides traditional Irish music lessons to members from Laois and bordering areas in Kilkenny, Carlow, and Kildare. With a comprehensive instrument bank to support members learning music in a cost-effective way, Spink prepares musicians for Fleadh Cheoil as well as traditional Irish music examinations. Most importantly, the tradition of playing and enjoying Irish music is being handed on to a new generation.
The Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 25 to 26.
The Festival committee are delighted to report strong ticket sales and encourage anyone intending to attend t book their tickets online via Spink Comhaltas website www.spinkcomhaltas.ie
Spink celebrates 40 years of music, dance and song in 2023- more information is available at www.spinkcomhaltas.ie
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