TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC & DANCES OF SOUTH ARMAGH
The history of the Céilí band era, dances and musicians of South Armagh has been captured on a newly released Book, DVD and CD’s. Focused on the golden era of the Céilí Bands, from the 1930’s-1960’s, the publications include a detailed book recounting the story of the Céilí Bands , the musicians, and dancers who were pivotal to the vibrant Traditional Irish Music scene in that area of outstanding natural beauty.
The beautifully bound and illustrated 140 page book is packed with interviews and reminiscences of many who were a major part of the traditional Irish dance and music scene. The book represents a trip down memory lane and contains photographs and interviews with musicians, dancers and local personalities from the 1930s onwards 
Included in the book are two hour -long CD’s; one a nostalgic compilation of remastered recordings of the famous South Armagh Céilí Bands, (John Pickering, John Murphy, the McCusker Brothers etc )and the second recordings of just some of the many talented musicians keeping the tradition alive today
Dedicated dancers and musicians of today will also relish the documentation, in one publication, of the instructions to the old dances of South Armagh (many almost forgotten), and the sheet music to the tunes. And that’s only the book!
Also launched was a 2 hour DVD of six local dance schools performing the local dances. Over 150 local dancers are stepping forward to preserve and popularize the local dances and preserve them on DVD for future generations. They are dancing to the live music of the local musicians, including many All Ireland champions, under the careful direction of Josephine Keegan, the Musical Director of the project.
Ceol Camlocha, have thoughtfully included a free CD of the soundtrack, to ensure easy listening when not watching the DVD. Each dance is introduced by Dance Director Tom Quinn against the backdrop of South Armagh’s spectacular settings, showing South Armagh’s Area of Outstanding Beauty in all its splendour!
Thanks to the generosity of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Ceol Camlocha will be able to donate copies to local schools and clubs in the area to help encourage young people to learn of this important aspect of their culture, and learn and preserve the dances and tunes for another generation at least.
Funding for the project was awarded under the Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Your Heritage’ programme, which aims to support projects that help people learn about, conserve and take an active part in their own and other people’s heritage. Professor Patrick Murphy, member of the HLF Northern Ireland Committee, said: “We are delighted to support this project which has researched and recorded the unique musical and cultural heritage of South Armagh. This intangible heritage was in real danger of being lost forever, but will now be recorded and shared with all members of the local community, breathing new life into our past traditions”. 
Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, Cllr. Colman Burns, whose parents and daughter feature in the story, on the DVD and on the CD, welcomed the initiative;
“Newry and Mourne District Council is proud of the rich and diverse tradition that thrives in the wonderful landscape of South Armagh. The Book, CD's and DVD provides an innovative and historically important insight into the traditional music and heritage of this area".
This project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund Northern Ireland
