Our 2025 series of Concerts and Recitals was held nightly at 8 pm in ‘The May Queen’ Tubbercurry from Monday 14th through to Friday 18th July.

We were thrilled that this year’s Monday night Tribute Concert, honouring mother and daughter, Bernie and Holly Geraghty, who have been long time contributors to the success of the South Sligo Summer School, was such a huge hit and memorable occasion for them both and for all those who gathered to play music with them on the night.

Bernie Geraghty

Bernie Geraghty hails from Ballindine, a small town in County Mayo. A highly respected performer and teacher, she is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who has spent decades nurturing the tradition of Irish music across Mayo and North Galway.

Her teaching career began in the 1980’s at Tooreen Dance Hall. In that same decade, Bernie took over the teaching role from her father, the renowned musician Martin Donoghue, continuing his legacy with the same dediacation and passion.

Over the years, Bernie has tutored countless students, including All-Ireland champions. She has led several Grúpa Ceoil ensembles to All-Ireland success and mentored many notable solo performers.

Bernie’s impact on traditional music in Connacht - both as a performer and as a teacher - is profound and lasting, built on a lifetime of passion, knowledge and a deep commitment to the musical heritage of the region.

Holly Geraghty

Originally hailing from County Mayo, Holly Geraghty is an internationally acclaimed harper, teacher and composer. Surrounded by a rich storehouse of Irish traditional music in bpoth her home and locality, Holly began to play the concertina and piano at an early age before moving on to the harp.

Holly holds a Bachelor of Music, a Graduate Diploma in Music Education and a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance. A multiple All-Ireland champion, she has graced stages across Europe, the United States of America and Canada while also imparting her knowledge at prestigious institutions and global festivals.

Holly has released two albums: Ceolmhar (2009), a collaboration with Jonathan Roche, and Musical Musings from Mayo (2023), a solo harp album that reflects her deep connection to her musical roots. She currently resides in County Galway.

The Recitals throughout the remainder of the week, on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday nights, all at 8 pm, featured an eclectic mix of tutors, students, local and visiting musicians with the Friday Night Concert, also starting at 8 pm, highlighting our tutors and some of our visiting musician friends as well as our local stalwarts of the tradition. Each year the large and appreciative audiences are treated to a feast of the very best of traditional Irish music, song and dance over the five nights and 2025 was no exception.

A highlight of our entire 2025 Programme of events was a very special Album Launch at the Fiddle, Flute & Whistle Recital on Tuesday, 15th July, when local flute player Conor McDonagh from Killavil and US fiddle player Andrew Caden from Bethesda, Maryland, played some selections from their recently released Fiddle & Flute Duet Album, ‘Across the Atlantic’, accompanied by Ryan Sheridan on keyboard - a truly memorable occasion in ‘The May Queen’.

Scroll down to see the images below which give a small flavour of the atmosphere from last summer’s series of concerts and recitals in 2024.