ABOUT
Ernestine Healy, originally from County Mayo, is an esteemed educator with a wealth of experience in music instruction. A qualified secondary school teacher, she has also worked as a lecturer in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, in the University of Limerick. She skilfully navigated the role of Acting Course Director for the Graduate Diploma in Music Education postgraduate program in 2008/09, subsequently contributing her knowledge as a lecturer in the BA in Irish Music and Dance undergraduate program. Her academic contributions extend to the role of tutor at the School of Music at University College Cork and as a part-time lecturer in Music Education at Dublin City University.
Working as the Executive Director of the ‘Meitheal Residential Summer School’ since its inauguration in 2004, she was appointed the Director of ‘Blas International Summer School for Traditional Music and Dance’ in January 2010, taking it to its 20th Anniversary in 2016. Ernestine was also the Artistic Director for the Mayo festival 'The Martin Donoghue Traditional Weekend'.
A virtuoso concertina player of international repute, Ernestine's influence permeates the Irish music scene as a tutor, director, and producer. Her talent has graced events like the ‘Milwaukee Irish Music Festival’, workshops in Germany, ‘Tocane’ in France, ‘Scoil Eigse’ as part of the All Ireland Fleadh, ‘Eigse Mrs.Crotty’ in Kilrush, ‘Consairtín’, Corofin Traditional Festival, along with prestigious festivals & workshops around Ireland, Europe & America. As one of the first concertina tutors for the Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM), her performances and educational insights are sought after on radio and television, including notable recent features on 'FleadhTv', 'The Fleadh programme', 'The Reel Deal' and the 'Mná an Cheoil' series on TG4.
Ernestine's multifaceted career encompasses not only performance and education but also scholarly research and creative composition in Irish traditional music. Her first-class Masters degree from the University of Limerick is a testament to her academic prowess. As a composer, she features in the recently published ‘Folk Tunes from the Women’ book curated by Kathryn Tickell, with her inaugural 'Meitheal Suite' (2008) commanding the stage with a hundred traditional musicians, including a celebrated performance at Dublin's National Concert Hall. Her subsequent Meitheal suites, 'Jiggy (2016)', 'Anam (2022)' and 'Cairdeas (2023)' have garnered acclaim, with 'Cairdeas' featuring in TG4's Fleadh 2023. Commissioned works, like ‘The Tionól Suite’ for Music Generation Laois' 10th anniversary in 2023, showcase her ability to unite young musicians in celebration of the arts.
Currently, Ernestine is channelling her creativity into several new endeavours, including innovative suites and her much-anticipated first solo album. Her ongoing projects and compositions continue to enrich the landscape of traditional Irish music.
Working as the Executive Director of the ‘Meitheal Residential Summer School’ since its inauguration in 2004, she was appointed the Director of ‘Blas International Summer School for Traditional Music and Dance’ in January 2010, taking it to its 20th Anniversary in 2016. Ernestine was also the Artistic Director for the Mayo festival 'The Martin Donoghue Traditional Weekend'.
A virtuoso concertina player of international repute, Ernestine's influence permeates the Irish music scene as a tutor, director, and producer. Her talent has graced events like the ‘Milwaukee Irish Music Festival’, workshops in Germany, ‘Tocane’ in France, ‘Scoil Eigse’ as part of the All Ireland Fleadh, ‘Eigse Mrs.Crotty’ in Kilrush, ‘Consairtín’, Corofin Traditional Festival, along with prestigious festivals & workshops around Ireland, Europe & America. As one of the first concertina tutors for the Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM), her performances and educational insights are sought after on radio and television, including notable recent features on 'FleadhTv', 'The Fleadh programme', 'The Reel Deal' and the 'Mná an Cheoil' series on TG4.
Ernestine's multifaceted career encompasses not only performance and education but also scholarly research and creative composition in Irish traditional music. Her first-class Masters degree from the University of Limerick is a testament to her academic prowess. As a composer, she features in the recently published ‘Folk Tunes from the Women’ book curated by Kathryn Tickell, with her inaugural 'Meitheal Suite' (2008) commanding the stage with a hundred traditional musicians, including a celebrated performance at Dublin's National Concert Hall. Her subsequent Meitheal suites, 'Jiggy (2016)', 'Anam (2022)' and 'Cairdeas (2023)' have garnered acclaim, with 'Cairdeas' featuring in TG4's Fleadh 2023. Commissioned works, like ‘The Tionól Suite’ for Music Generation Laois' 10th anniversary in 2023, showcase her ability to unite young musicians in celebration of the arts.
Currently, Ernestine is channelling her creativity into several new endeavours, including innovative suites and her much-anticipated first solo album. Her ongoing projects and compositions continue to enrich the landscape of traditional Irish music.