O'Flaherty Irish Music retreat, Dallas, Oct 07

[Passing on an invitation from Dallas's Ken Fleming (banjo and box) I have heard nothing but good things about this event, now in its 4th year. Ken is Good People and the instructors they've laid on are top-notch. Well worth the investment of time and money.]

Just wanted to pass on some information about a traditional Irish music camp in Texas called the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat that is getting great reviews by instructors and students. Here are some of the details:

This year’s retreat is October 26-28 at the Hoblitzelle Camp and Conference Center in Midlothian, Texas, about 30 minutes south of Dallas. Classes begin Friday morning and the retreat ends Sunday night. Each day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) there will be three 90-minute classes and one 60-minute workshop. There’s a superb lineup of instructors this year, including such wonderful players as Matt Cranitch (fiddle), Patrick Ourceau (fiddle), Mickey Dunne (uilleann pipes), Tommy O’Sullivan (guitar/singing), Catherine McEvoy (flute/whistle), Pat Broaders (bouzouki/singing), Mark Stone (bodhran), Therese Honey (harp), and many more. Each night there will be instructor concerts and sessions. On the final night, there will be a “Singers Scramble” and “Texas Tune Tussle” which features a friendly competition among ensembles that are formed at the retreat during the weekend followed by a farewell concert. Lodging on campus will be available from Thursday evening through Sunday night with check out by 11 a.m. on Monday the 29th. Meals will be offered Thursday dinner through Monday breakfast. There will be a shuttle to and from DFW and Love Field Airports and the camp.

Costs are $150 for tuition, $80 for youth 18 and under and seniors 65 and older. Meals, lodging and shuttle service can be reserved separately. If you’re interested, visit the retreat’s website at http://www.irishtradmusic.org/retreat or call the retreat office at (972) 238-8724. This is a great way to spend a three-day weekend being saturated in Irish trad music with a community of players.