Drumshanbo Music Course

21/08/2026

Since 1997, the Music course in Drumshanbo - now part of Leitrim College of Further Education and Training - has been providing music education to people of all ages, all instruments, all backgrounds, all musical genres and all levels including beginners.

The article below is yet another example of how beneficial and therapeutic music is to us all.

The points made by this UL Professor of Music Therapy are demonstrated every year in Drumshanbo and students regularly tell us how enjoyable, rewarding and therapeutic music-making and singing on the course is.

We welcome guest artists each year and in October 2025, we were honoured to be joined by UL Music Therapy graduate and master percussionist Tommy Hayes. Tommy is best-known as one of the founders of iconic group ‘Stockton’s Wing’ but he is also one of the first graduates of Music Therapy in UL and gave us a great insight into his work as a music therapist.

As of today, August 21st 2026, there are still a few places available on the Full-Time, 1-year Music course in Drumshanbo which begins on September 7th, 2026. If you know of anyone that might be interested, please let them know and send them to LeitrimCollege.ie

University of Limerick
Music Generation Roscommon
Music Generation Sligo
Music Generation Ireland
Irish Daily Mirror
Irish Independent
Leitrim Adult Educational Guidance Service
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board
Leitrim Tourism Network
Drumshanbo Adult Choir
Carrick On Shannon
Sligo College Of Further EducationMayo College Mayo Guidance Service

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When you visit your GP, you probably expect a prescription for medication, or perhaps a referral to a specialist. But what if you were prescribed a choir, an art class, a dance group? That’s the idea behind social prescribing and research suggests it can benefit both our mental and physical health.

UL's Professor of Music Therapy, Dr Hilary Moss discusses 'social prescribing' on Newstalk's Moncrieff Show.

LISTEN: https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-moncrieff/the-benefits-of-social-prescribing

20/08/2026

Great to see a Music course graduate spreading her wings and releasing a new song! No AI bots or algorithms were harmed in the recording of this one… Aoife’s voice is 100% natural!!

Leitrim College of Further Education and Training

Roscommon singer Aoife Duignan, from the coal-mining village of Arigna, will release her new single The Winning Dream on Friday, 4 September 2026, after performances of the song reached 3.8 million views across TikTok and Facebook.

Behind the viral success is a story stretching back more than 30 years.

While studying Traditional Irish Music in Drumshanbo, Aoife was given a CD by her tutor Mossie Martin containing a 1993 Shannonside Radio recording from Vincent pearse’s show “Open Door” at Regan’s Bogside Inn.

On it, local singer Kathleen Higgins performed a humorous song she called The Lottery Song, also known as The Winning Dream.

Aoife later performed it at her sold-out concert in Keadue and during two sold-out nights at The Dock in Carrick-on-Shannon. After clips were shared online, performances of the song reached 3.8 million views, with people repeatedly asking her to record and release it.

22/05/2026

Monthly ‘Hooleys’ are musical gatherings where everyone is welcome to play, sing, dance or listen.

They are a wonderful way for anyone to meet the tutor and students and to hear all about the Music course of Leitrim College, Drumshanbo campus.

Hooleys are always free to attend and always offer a cuppa and something to go along with it (often home-baked), which the students take turns to provide.

They have been a feature of the Music course since 2018 and provide an opportunity for students to perform in a very encouraging setting.

The Level 5 Music Award can be achieved on a Full-Time (1 year) or Part-Time (2 days per week over two years) basis.

If you know of anyone that might like to join us for a Hooley some month or to apply for the Music course, please get in touch by messenger or via our website;

LeitrimCollege.ie

23/04/2026

🗓️ MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Leitrim College Open Day 2026!
In advance of our Open Day on Wednesday, April 15th, from 10am, let's share with you some of the courses that we offer. Next up is Music.

🎵 Music Studies: Develop your performance skills and technical knowledge in a creative, supportive environment. This course is also offered part-time.

For more information click on the link below:
https://leitrimcollege.ie/traditional-irish-music/

📍Where to find us on Open Day:
Drumshanbo Campus - Hilly Road, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim N41 C6X6.
Carrick on Shannon Campus - The Courtyard, Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim N41 A386 and N41 TE20.

22/04/2026

14/04/2026