Irish Traditional Music Workshops

1. Aidan Connolly - Fiddle workshop

Suitable for intermediate / advanced fiddle players

This is a great opportunity for fiddle players that want to add to their Irish repertoire and learn Irish techniques.

2. Bryan O'Leary - Music of County Kerry workshop

Suitable for all melody instruments

Bryan will lead this workshop teaching the music of his native County Kerry: Polkas, Slides, and so much more!

10:00AM - 10:15AM: Registration and meet and greet with the instructors

10:15AM - 12:00PM: Workshops

12:00PM - 1:00PM: Break

1:00PM - 2:00PM: Workshops

2:00PM - 3:00PM: Session for workshop attendees led by Aidan and Bryan

About the instructors:
Fiddle player Aidan Connolly and accordionist Bryan O’Leary are two leading
performers of traditional Irish music.

Aidan Connolly, from Dublin, has received widespread acclaim for his distinctive fiddle playing and was nominated for Best Folk Instrumentalist at the RTÉ Folk Awards in 2022. He also performs the role of John Sheahan in the internationally touring stage show Dubliners Encore. His recordings have received critical praise in publications such as The Irish Times and The Irish Echo.

Bryan O’Leary, a native of Tureencahill in County Kerry, is widely regarded as one of the leading accordion players of his generation and was named TG4 Young Musician of the Year in 2015. He is the grandson of the legendary Sliabh Luachra accordion player Johnny O’Leary, and his playing continues a rich family tradition rooted in the distinctive repertoire of polkas and slides associated with the region.

Their album The Groves of Gneeveguilla, released on the Raelach Records label in late 2025, celebrates the music and musicians of Sliabh Luachra.
Both musicians are experienced educators and have been invited as guest teachers at institutions including the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (University of Limerick) and University College Cork, and regularly teach at music festivals and workshops in Ireland and abroad.

Aidan and Bryan have limited availability for one-on-one private lessons on Friday July 3, 2026. Please contact eoin@vsim.ca for further details.

These workshops are brought to you by Vancouver School of Irish Music (www.vsim.ca). We are a non-profit organisation currently offering weekly Irish traditional music lessons on various instruments and quarterly public performance opportunities to children aged from 6 to 12. For further info see www.vsim.ca/classes.

Eoin Caulfield

1 Upcoming Event(s)