Monday 28th July - Friday 1 August 2025 | 10am – 1pm | Ulster University, York Street, BT15 1ED

Use EARLYBIRD-2025 to avail of the Earlybird discount and save over £50 on selected masterclasses. Discount ends 1 April 2025.

We have a fantastic Summer School accommodation offer starting at only £349 for 7 nights in Belfast City Centre, click here to find out more.

A founding member of Dervish, Liam Kelly was born into a musical family and began playing traditional Irish music at a very young age. He started on the accordion but later switched to the whistle and in turn the flute, mainly learning from local player Carmel Gunning. Liam formed Poitin, traditional music group, with Shane Mitchell while still at school. The level of success and media attention Poitin received was remarkable but their young age prevented them from capitalizing on their success. Liam´s role in Dervish is a central one, as the band´s core sound revolves around the tight and intuitive interplay between Flute, Accordion and Fiddle. Liam celebrated 20 years in Dervish, with a solo album release called Sweetwood, which received great acclaim and features Michael Holmes on the Bouzouki and Donnchadh Gough on the Bodhrán. 

Country Antrim born flute player Brendan Mulholland started out on the flute at the age of 11 and is now widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of the Irish Wooden Flute throughout the world of folk and traditional music both at home and abroad. Brendan is a familiar face on the European circuit for flute workshops and lectures and has performed and recorded with many acts including Tempest, BrÍd Harper, Grainne Holland, John Carty, Mick O'Brien, Jean Michel Vellion and Mary Dillon. 

The Summer School’s team of tutors is made up of internationally renowned performers with proven track records as teachers and educationalists. The primary means of teaching and learning will be ‘by ear’ with an emphasis in the less experienced classes of assisting pupils to develop oral/aural skills in addition to instrumental competency and developing core repertoire. All classes are designed for intermediate to advanced (minimum 2 years instrument experience) adults and children over 6 years of age except beginner instrument classes, whistle and sing, set dancing, sean nós dancing, traditional singing & sean nós singing which are suitable for all levels including beginners.