BODHRÁN EXPLORERS: IMMERSION DAY

I’m delighted to introduce a brand new full-day workshop as part of the Bodhrán Explorers series — designed for players who are ready to take a deeper dive into their playing.

This Immersion Day is an extended, intensive version of Bodhrán Explorers — giving us the time and space to really explore the instrument in a musical, practical, and collaborative way.

Our first session will focus on one of the most important (and often most challenging!) aspects of bodhrán playing:

Accompanying Tunes – Playing with Music, Not Just Rhythm

We’ll explore how to support and enhance traditional Irish tunes on the bodhrán — and how to develop your instincts as a sensitive, creative accompanist.

Further Information for Participants:
This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced players who already have an established bodhrán practice and are comfortable with the fundamentals of playing.

Places are strictly limited to just 20 participants, to ensure a focused, interactive, and high-quality experience — early booking is strongly recommended.

Unfortunately, it is not suitable for complete beginners.

This is an adult-only workshop, and all participants must be 18 or over. This helps create a focused, relaxed, and supportive environment for everyone involved.

Play with Live Professional Musicians

A core part of the day is the opportunity to play alongside top-class professional musicians:

• Rita Farrell – flute & uilleann pipes

• Cormac Mac Murchú– guitar

This is a rare chance to experience what it really feels like to accompany live music — listening, reacting, supporting, and finding your place in the sound.

Timetable:

• 10:00 – 10:30 — Welcome & Warm-Up (Ruairí)

• 10:30 – 11:45 — Workshop 1 (Ruairí)

• 11:45 – 12:00 — Break

• 12:00 – 13:00 — Workshop 2 (Ruairí)

• 13:00 – 13:45 — Lunch ( bring your own lunch/ deliveroo/ local options available)

• 13:45 – 14:00 — Warm-Up with Ruairí

• 14:00 – 15:15 — Workshop with Ruairí & Live Musicians

• 15:15 – 15:30 — Break

• 15:30 – 16:30 — Continued Workshop with Ruairí & Live Musicians

• 16:30 – 17:00 — Informal Performance / Play-through (with Live Musicians)

What We’ll Explore

Over the day, we’ll work through a range of ideas to help you feel more confident and musical when playing with others:

• Listening to phrasing and shape in a tune

• Finding a groove that actually feels good

• Knowing when to keep things simple — and when to be more expressive

• Adding variation to patterns (and choosing the right moment to do so)

• Developing practical, aural musicianship skills for playing with other musicians

• Strengthening your timekeeping and internal sense of pulse

• Getting more comfortable playing along with reels, jigs, and other tune types

No pressure — just a chance to explore, try things out, and build confidence in a supportive setting.

Details;

Date: Saturday 23rd May 2026
Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Location: London Irish Centre, 50–52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB

Nearest Tube: Camden Town (Northern Line – 15 min walk)
Nearest Overground: Camden Road (8 min walk)
Buses: 253, 274, 29

What to Bring

• Your bodhrán

• A tipper (or a few, if you have them!)

• Notebook (optional)

• Open ears and a willingness to try things

CANCELATION POLICY:

• No refund or credit if canceled within 7 days of the event.

• Any refunds on credit card payments are subject to a 5% fee to cover credit card processing of refund and return.