Classes, workshops, and private instruction

• NEW! Irish Choir with Mary Mc Laughlin in Santa Cruz. She also offers Irish language instruction.
  Call Mary for information 831-588-2842.

• When possible, the Clifford-Hoban branch offers selective workshops in Irish music and dance with visiting artists (e.g. button box with Joe Burke, fiddle with Maeve Donnelly, sean nós singing with Eilis Kennedy). Become a branch member to receive our newsletter for updates.

• Community Music School of Santa Cruz offers referrals to music teachers for lessons on most instruments of Irish traditional music. The school also holds summer Celtic Music camps and year-round Celtic bands for children and teens.
  

• Allison Barnes Academy of Irish Dance is currently offering Irish step dance classes in Watsonville for children and adults. For details, please call Allison at 831-634-1650.
  

• If you are interested in the Irish language check out the annual San Francisco Bay Area Irish Language Immersion Weekend. See Deireadh Seachtaine.
  

Concerts

• The Clifford-Hoban branch occasionally sponsors intimate concerts with master musicians. Become a branch member to receive our newsletter for updates.

• The Monterey Bay Celtic Society brings world class touring musicians to the region.

• Community Music School of Santa Cruz also offers a concert series rich in high quality Celtic music.

• The Loch Lomond Celtic Society brings many fine Celtic artists to the stage at the annual Highland Games in Ben Lomond.

• Free Celtic Music Night at St Andrew's Church in Aptos, every Tuesday night at 7pm. Hosted by David Brewer (contact: pipeyspice@hotmail.com). 9850 Monroe Ave. See map at http://standrew-aptos.org

Local talent for hire

• The Clifford-Hoban Céilí Band can provide rousing traditional Irish music for parties and other events.
  Please call Janet at (831) 429-1691.

• For group dance instruction at your next celebration, please call CCE dance teacher Linda Preston at (831) 688-5729.

• Several CCE member musicians perform throughout the Monterey Bay region, including Crossing to Erin, Dance Around Molly, Fox on the Town, Shelley Phillips, and Sheltering Sky.

Music and language resources from branch members

• The Clifford-Hoban branch has a tunebook available for $15 featuring commonly played Irish tune sets. Available at CCE sessions or by calling Janet at (831) 429-1691.

• Mary Mc Laughlin has put out a terrific instructional book and CD that provides a phonetic approach to singing in the Irish language, suitable for non-Irish speakers. See http://www.marymclaughlin.com.

• Galt Barber has created websites of interest to Irish speakers and learners, including Scéalta sa Sean-Chló (Stories in Old Irish Print), Seachtain na Gaeilge (Audio excerpts from Irish Week in San Francisco, 2004), and Links to Irish Resources.

• Branch musicians have been among the artists featured on compact disc recordings of Irish music available from Community Music School of Santa Cruz, Gourd Music, and Nikki Ragsdale.

• There are three local discussion boards of interest at http://www.armbell.com/forum/index.php?mforum=canc They include: Comhrá an Cheoil (Music Discussion): general chat about Irish music...open to all-comers; CCÉ Session Chat: A place for us to discuss topics that come up during our sessions; and Gaeltacht sa Ghalltacht: A place for people who are interested in the Irish language to meet up with one another.

• The Celtic Society website has a listing of local radio shows featuring Irish music.