Ernestine Healy

The 20th Anniversary of The Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance takes place in the Irish World Academy building at the University of Limerick from June 20th to July 1st, 2016. WHAT IS BLAS: Blas is now firmly established as one of Ireland's most prestigious summer schools, attracting students (16 & over) from around the world to spend two weeks gaining access to the expertise of some of Ireland's finest traditional musicians, singers, and dancers. Blas attracts musicians, singers, and dancers who are already familiar with the Irish traditions and who want to extend their technique, repertoire, and knowledge therein. It also attracts many performers from other genres who find it beneficial to study with the Blas Summer School as a form of induction and acculturation in the Irish traditions before diving in at the deep end of the main traditional scene of endless sessions, ceilidhs, fleadhanna, and festivals. WHAT IS INVOLVED: Apart from tuition and master classes, Blas students can expect a whole range of activities including lectures on Irish Traditional music topics, field trips, sessions, lunchtime and evening concerts, céilís, and above all, the opportunity to share tunes with some of Ireland's finest traditional musicians. The programme has ample content and contact hours that it can be accredited with 3 Academic credits or 6 ECTS credits towards an international degree. This makes Blas unique within the world of traditional music summer schools in that the study of Irish traditional music, song, and dance can count as a percentage towards a university degree education. By studying Irish traditional music, song, and dance on an Irish university campus, students benefit not only from an 'on the ground experience' but also from the international network of university connections and accreditation systems. Along with Irish Traditional Music classes, Blas offers an Irish Language class facilitated through the Aonad na Gaeilge [www.ul.ie/aonadnagaeilge], which is the Irish language promotion office at UL. It provides tutors for the Irish language classes at Blas and offers two levels; to beginners for those who have never studied the language before and at intermediate/advanced level, for those who have a proficient level in Irish. SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2010, musician, singer, and composer Paul Brady made available a number of bursaries that continued for three years. A new stream of Paul Brady Blas Bursaries was made available in late Spring 2013 and will continue for Blas 2016. The recipients of the scholarships benefit from master classes and tuition from Ireland's most distinguished traditional musicians, singers, and dancers. Applications for the BLAS BRADY BURSARY 2016 are now open until Monday, March 30th, 2016. For further information on the Paul Brady Blas Bursary and on other scholarships that are available, please see www.blas.ie. FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information on the Blas Summer School, see www.blas.ie or contact Ernestine Healy, Director, Blas Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance, Irish World Academy, University of Limerick. Email: Ernestine.healy@ul.ie or by Phone: 061 202653.