Students strike a chord for charity with Blossom Beats concert

For the 20th year in a row the students and tutor of the music course in Drumshanbo – now part of the recently established Leitrim College of Further Education – are organising and performing a charity concert on Friday, March 6th at 8 p.m. in the Mayflower Centre.

This year’s event is being co-ordinated by the part-time students, another recently established option, which runs for two days per week over two years.

‘Blossom Beats’ is the title of the 2026 concert, inspired by the seasonal tune title of one of the tunes, a well-known reel called ‘The Blackberry Blossom’. The music, songs and dancing that the students have been learning, arranging and rehearsing since September 2025 will be performed with gusto and humour and all in aid of the Sligo Cancer Support Centre.

Tickets are €10 and will be available on the door from 7 p.m.. U-12s go free and, as usual, there will be plenty of raffle prizes from generous local businesses. As is also traditional for these events, there will be a cuppa and something to go along with it for everyone during the interval!

The course was established in 1997, building on the success of the annual Joe Mooney Summer School which attracts musicians, singers and dancers from all over the country and internationally. Funded and administered by Leitrim College of Further Education and Training (FET) which is part of Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), the music course offers an introduction to music, song, dance, music theory, arranging, performing, the music industry, hosting events and welcomes adults of all ages, all instruments, all backgrounds and all levels including beginners.