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

We are delighted to announce that this year’s Monday night concert is a Tribute to mother and daughter, Bernie and Holly Geraghty, who have been long time contributors to the success of the South Sligo Summer School.

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, will feature 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.

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