The Iona Connection – Intergenerational Music Exchange Workshop

The remote Hebridean island of Iona is a unique place, sitting at the crossroads of Irish and Scottish culture while also acting as a starting point for journeys to the New World. It was the inspiration for Scots fiddler Alasdair Fraser, Californian cellist Natalie Haas and Donegal fiddler and singer Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to explore connections between traditional Irish, Scottish and Old Time American music.

During their Music Network tour of Ireland earlier this month, Music Generation was delighted to host The Iona Connection intergenerational Musical Exhange workshops presented in association with Music Network and Age & Opportunity as part of the Bealtaine Festival.

These exchanges invited young (8 to 18 years) and older (adult) musicians with an interest in traditional/folk music to book in pairs for a ‘musical sharing’ between the generations and between amateur and professional musicians in Sligo, Mayo and Donegal. The participants shared tunes and tales about their musical experiences during these enjoyable workshops.

Music Network works with local Music Education Partnerships in connecting its work in music performance and music education with the aim of giving children and young people rich, holistic musical experiences. Future collaborations with Music Generation include workshops by Chris Stout (fiddle) and Catriona McKay (Scottish harp) with Music Generation Louth (2 July), Music Generation Laois (3 July) and Music Generation Wicklow (4 July) as part of the summer camp programme.