The Section of Music at DkIT is delighted to be hosting the 10th Annual Conference of the Society for Musicology in Ireland from 15-17 June 2012.

Download the 2012 Brochure

DKIT CREATIVE MEDIA & MUSIC SUMMER WORKSHOPS

Irene McGinn

My time as a graduate intern with the Atlantic Academy was extremely beneficial. The staff are very helpful and eager to see students do well and I feel that I have gained reliable experience that will stand to me in my future career.

Mark Larkin

Dr. Ray James

Dr Ray James is a visiting professor from Baker University, Kansas, USA who  taught at Dundalk Institute of Technology Oct-Dec., 2011. Ray is a Professor of Bands, and his areas of specialism includes music education, low brass, symphonic bands and jazz.

“I find the facilities no less than outstanding!  I simply marvel at the resources that are at student’s fingertips: six or seven music and movie editing bays, giant Mac labs, green screens in multiple filming studios, a dance studio, an art studio, a recital hall, great practice facilities and recording studios, one large enough to house a small orchestra. The incredible opportunity by faculty and staff to design new learning environments and what they have done to transform this old cigarette factory into a university facility which houses the School of Informatics, and Creative Arts is absolutely incredible.”

Richard Chrisman

Pictured back right

Richard Chrisman is current Director of the Graduate Programs in Music: the Master of Music, the Artist Diploma, and Doctoral of Music Arts in the Mason Gross School of the Arts; and the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in musicology and in composition/theory for the Graduate School of Rutgers University. He graduated from Yale with a PhD in music theory, and now devotes most of his time toward composition.

“DkIT is a gold mine for anyone interested in studying anything from traditional Irish music to the latest advances in media and art:  CD and DVD production, television, radio, and film.  If our American students could see the offerings there and the up-to-date facilities, they would be flocking to Dundalk.  And the bus to Dublin stops hourly right there on campus.”

Canadian Ambassador Loyola Hearn with some students from the Creative Arts Department in DkIT

The close historical and cultural ties that bind the Oriel region with Canada were marked recently by the visit to Dundalk Institute of Technology of the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, HE Ambassador Loyola Hearn. Ambassador Hearn was welcomed by DkIT President Mr Denis Cummins and Dr Bob McKiernan, Head of the School of Informatics and Creative Arts. Other distinguished visitors on the occasion included Senator Terry Brennan of Carlingford, Atlantic Academy of the Arts Chairperson, Mr Gary Mills, and Board members Dr Tim Campbell, Director of the Saint  Patrick Centre, Downpatrick and Professor JK Taaffe, Emeritus Dean of International Affairs, DIT.

Ambassador Hearn and guests were given a tour of the new facilities for Creative Arts in the Carroll Building and enjoyed a special recital programme from music students under the direction of Ms Siubhán Ó Dubháin and Dr Daithí Kearney including a rousing rendition of the Canadian National Anthem O Canada. Mr Tommy Fegan, Secretary General of the Atlantic Academy also entertained the guests to an impromptu session on the uilleann pipes. The Ambassador and guests were given a presentation by Ms Adele Commins, Head of Music, Ms Caroline Ó Sullivan, Head of Creative Media and Mr Tommy Fegan on the work of the Department of Music and Creative Media and the Atlantic Academy. The Ambassador emphasised the importance of the shared historical and musical links between the region and his homeland, in particular the legacy of Carlingford born Thomas Darcy Magee, the founding father of the Canadian Federation, and he welcomed plans for future collaboration.

Ambassador Hearn congratulated the President on the initiatives being taken by the Department of Music and Creative Media and the Atlantic Academy to further Ireland/Canada links and expressed his admiration for the magnificent facilities in the Carroll Building.

The distinguished guests were hosted by President Cummins at lunch provided by the Hospitality Section under the direction of Ms Brianain Erraught and Mr Alan Kelly. The Ambassador and guests were deeply impressed by the expertise and professionalism of the students and conveyed their appreciation and thanks to President Cummins.

One internship was with the Milwaukee Irish Fest, which is the biggest Irish Traditional Music festival in North America. The second internship was with the Irish Fair in Minnesota.

Throughout their time with the agencies both Keith and Sean were able to use the skills they had learned during their time at DkIT to their full potential and allow them to put them to use in a working environment.

Below are updates sent by Keith and Sean while on the programme;

Milwaukee Irish Fest

Day 3

Irish Fair Minnesota

Thomas D'Arcy McGee

Download the 2012 Application Form

Download the Programme Running Order

Thomas D’Arcy McGee was born in Carlingford, Co. Louth, Ireland on April 13th 1825 and at seventeen he emigrated to the United States. He returned to Ireland as a successful nationalist, journalist and enthusiastically supported the 1848 Young Ireland rebellion. He escaped to Philadelphia as ‘a traitor to the British Government’. Over the following years McGee moved to Canada and to the right of the political spectrum. He became one of the founding fathers of the Canadian Confederation, but was assassinated on April 7th 1868.

The School was officially opened on the 8th May 2012 by His Excellency Loyola Hearn Canadian Ambassador to Ireland in Taaffes Castle, Carlingford, Co. Louth.

Listen to the podcast of the launch here -> http://soundcloud.com/raptor89/thomas-darcy-mcgee

Listen to an interview with Dr David Wilson on LMFM Radio here -> http://soundcloud.com/raptor89/lmfm-david-wilson-interview

Watch the promotional video here -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thGWVx9296o

The children of St Olivers National School Carlingford welcome the Canadian Ambassador Loyola Hearn, Oliver Tully Chairman of Louth Co Co, Professor David Wilson, President of DkIT Denis Cummins, Andrew Griffith, Chairman of the Board of DkIT and the great great grandson of Darcy Magee, D'Arcy Magee Quinn. Photo's by Shay Larkin.

His Excellency Loyola Hearn with Author Dr David Wilson, Chairman of Louth County Council Oliver Tully, Alan Johnson owner of Taaffes Castle Carlingford

This years theme for the school will be – Thomas D’Arcy McGee ‘From Young Irelander to Canadian Loyalist’. It will explore Young Ireland and its legacy, McGee’s relationship with John Mitchel, the changing and diverse natures of our cherished ‘isms’ and why so many Young Irelanders served under two flags; Carlingford’s D’Arcy McGee in Canada, Newry’s John Mitchel in the Confederacy, Newry’s John Martin in Westminster, Monaghan’s Sir Charles Gavin Duffy in Victoria and Waterford’s Thomas Francis Meagher with the Union.

The theme will be discussed through various keynote speeches by academics from Canada including Dr David Wilson, Professor of Celtic Studies, University of Toronto and Biographer of Thomas D’Arcy McGee. Also speaking will be Anthony Russell, Retired Senior Lecturer in Education, Anglia Ruskin University.

“From his early involvement in Ireland, to his political leadership in Canada which led to him being called a ‘Father of Confederation’, D’Arcy McGee has created his place in history. This contribution is fittingly recognised in the establishment of the Thomas D’Arcy McGee International Summer School in the home town of his birth”.

His Excellency  Loyola Hearn, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland.

“A brilliant writer, outstanding orator and charismatic politician, Thomas D’Arcy McGee was one of the greatest Irishmen of the nineteenth century — a one-time revolutionary republican who wound up as a Father of Canadian Confederation, and whose career is endlessly fascinating”.

Dr David Wilson, Professor of Celtic Studies, University of Toronto and Biographer of Thomas D’Arcy McGee.

“The Thomas D’Arcy McGee International Summer School allows us to focus on the very different geographical and political journeys of the Young Irelanders following the 1848 rebellion – like McGee many served under two flags”.

Anthony Russell, Retired Senior Lecturer in Education, Anglia Ruskin University.

Pat O'Callaghan, D'Arcy McGee Quinn - great great grandson of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, His Excellency Loyola Hearn, Andrew Griffiths Chairman of DkIT, Oliver Tully Chairman of Louth County Council at the D'Arcy Magee memorial in Carlingford.

For more information please contact Tommy Fegan

Tel: +35342 937 0241 or +35342 937 0200 ext. 2121
Email: tommyfegan@gmail.com

Video by Sean Smyth, filmed during his internship  at Irish Fair of Minnesota

www.seansmyth.ie
www.twitter.com/Sean_Smyth

Sorry for the delay with this post but my schedule at Irish Fest got busy so I didn’t get much time to update but here it is.

Tuesday morning started working in the Retail area and then the Cultural area. This involved learning about each section and mostly moving equipment around.

After lunch the interns were brought on a trip to the Archives with Barry Stapleton at the Irish Fest Center. These archives included much Irish & Irish American music memorabilia along with a massive collection of CDs, tapes, VHS tapes, DVDs and much more.

After our trip to the Archives we were put in the Office & Bank area. Here we learned all about Customer Care, Communications on the grounds, Operations, Financial Information, Grounds Tickets, etc

That evening there was a meeting for all the volunteers at the Tipperary Stage where everyone was brought up to date with all the going ons of the festival. After the meeting all the staff and volunteers were allowed into the Retail Area where they could buy Irish Fest Merchandise before the actual festival.

This concluded the day until the Session later that night.

After a great BBQ here at the Fitzgibbons household yesterday, today the Interns (Hazel Lake, Cathy McGarry & myself) got a tour and history lesson of the grounds of the festival from John Mayer who is a veteran when it comes to Irish Fest. The grounds are a permanent grounds for festivals all year round with Summer Fest being the main festival held every year with commercial acts.

After the tour we followed Jane Anderson who is the Executive Director of the festival. With Jane, we attended the needs of various employees and volunteers on the grounds.

We grabbed a bit of lunch & were sent to the Cultural Village, which is on the grounds, where we helped finish a light house that we started working on Saturday.

Barry Stapleton brought us on a boat trip after work along Lake Michigan and up the River which goes right through downtown

I’m linking to some photos that I’ve taken throughout the few days because I’ve not been able to upload them to Flickr yet (busy, busy!).

Link - Kick off Party

Link - Day 1 – Part 1

Link - Day 1 – Part II

Link - Day 2 @ The Fair

Link - Overview of all the photos from Irish Fair