THE chair of Glengormley School of Traditional Music has called for more investment in the tuition of traditional music following the success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Ray Morgan and his pupils have had a busy number of weeks, with their summer school, Tradfest and the Fleadh.
During the Fleadh the school hosted a Children's Trad Trail at different spots around the city each day and sessions at 2 Royal Avenue in the city centre.
On Friday, they performed to thousands on stage at the Gig Rig at Belfast City Hall.
Speaking about the Fleadh, Ray said: "The Fleadh was absolutely fantastic. Like some other people, I maybe had some doubts if Belfast could pull it off but we absolutely did and it is unbelievable just how successful it was.
"Success for me was that buzz that was in the city for eight days straight. There was so much joy and excitement. I feel so much pride in being from Belfast.
"Adults don’t really admit being emotional apart from about their family but the amount of people who have said they felt emotional is extraordinary.
"For me, another big thing was that it was truly inclusive. I was blown away by the number of families and prams in the street. I was blown away the number of children and young people playing traditional music on the streets.
"During the Fleadh, we ran a session trail at different locations every day, a session inside or outside 2 Royal Avenue.
"We also performed on Friday at the Gig Rig stage at Belfast City Hall and got a fantastic crowd and reception. We had about 50 musicians on stage performing and it gave me a huge buzz."
Turning to the legacy of the Fleadh, Ray has called for sustained investment in the tuition of traditional music.
"The legacy of the Fleadh is so important now. I know it is coming back next year but already we are starting to gauge that," he added. "Undoubtedly more and more children and young people will start to learn traditional music instruments.
"Glengormley School of Traditional Music are pretty much at full capacity for the new term starting in September.
"We are currently waiting on vital Arts Council funding to continue to do what we do but that won’t take into account the massive influx of people that you would expect will want to take up Irish traditional music.
"On the back of the Fleadh, we need proper and sustained investment in traditional arts and music on a level which reflects its place in everyday culture in this city as shown in the last week.
"There also needs to be more constructive and organised traditional music teaching in schools.
"We work in schools and there are kids who can’t afford a tin whistle. We have set up the fundraising for traditional music instruments in primary schools and were supported recently by Féile an Phobail who made us their charity partner this year as well as great support from Tradfest.
"We will continue to do what we do best which is providing tuition and promotion of traditional music."
