Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music - Background
     
    The South Galway and North Clare region is an area that has long been renowned for the quality of its traditional music. Names like Jack Mulkere, the highly regarded music teacher, come to mind, as do those of Joe Cooley, the great accordion player, and Kieran Collins, the exceptional tin whistle player. Ceili Bands were also very much part of this tradition, such as the Kilfenora in North Clare and the Tulla in East Clare. These musicians and many more left an indelible mark on the traditional music of this part of Ireland.

This area lost one of its most talented musicians when Joseph Browne died tragically in February 2006. Joseph, the son of Riona and Michael Browne, grew up in Knockmeal, between Crusheen and Gort, on the border of North Clare and South Galway and, in his short nineteen years, he too had begun to leave his mark on the music of the area. Crusheen is well known for its music and sport and Joseph was actively involved in both from a very young age. Indeed he attended his first music class in Crusheen before his fourth birthday. Crusheen is a parish that holds within its boundaries a most scenic area comprising of lakes, drumlins and foothills of the Slieve Aughty Mountains, while enjoying close proximity to the Burren Mountains also.

Joseph grew up here in a beautiful rural environment that he loved and appreciated. Joseph loved life and his first love was music. He was a remarkably gifted musician who played the fiddle, traditional and classical piano and the concertina. Joseph delighted in arranging and composing music and was also a talented Irish dancer. He was in his first year of a degree in medicine at NUIG at the time of his death at the early age of nineteen. Joseph is pictured here playing at the unveiling of a monument to Jack Mulkere in the village of Crusheen. Also in the picture are Eilis Faherty, Lara Browne and Shane O’Donnell.