BBC News NI
BBCHundreds of musicians have taken part in an outdoor traditional music session in Belfast city centre as part of the city’s Tradfest events.
The usually calm and quiet Cathedral Gardens quickly transformed with a joyful jig performed by over 900 traditional musicians in a spontaneous flash mob on Wednesday morning.
The musicians of all ages and skill levels who took part are attending the Belfast TradFest summer school, taking place in Ulster University’s Belfast campus.
Thousands of people are expected in Belfast for the week-long celebration of Irish traditional music.
Belfast TradFest, now in its seventh year, is running until 3 August.
The Artistic Director of Belfast Tradfest Dónal O’Connor led the 900 strong group in a rendition of ‘The Blarney Pilgrim’.
“We thought it would be a nice idea to have a spontaneous session and bring the students out of their classrooms and come together to play a tune, dance and sing together.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in the company of so many traditional musicians in one place, and the beauty of the summer school is that there are people of all ages, from five years old, to our oldest student being 85.”
He added: “Traditional music brings people together, with young people learning from the old and old learning from the young”.
Mr O’Connor also explained the intentional choice behind the tune “The Blarney Pilgrim”.
“It made famous by the band Planxty in the 70s, but is often a tune that many people learn at the early stages of their music learning career, it is a brilliant unifier.”
Éimear, 21, has been playing the flute for nine years and said it “has been great to see everyone of all ages and all abilities come together to play a tune”.
Nellie, a summer school student, told BBC News NI the importance of the music.
“I live in England and have come over specifically for TradFest. I come from a very musical family and just love playing and listening to traditional music.”
“Trad music for me is a way to communicate. I can go in to any pub and have something in common with someone else there, it creates an instant human connection over a shared love.”
Family influence also plays a big part in many of the young people’s journeys with their instruments.
Which is the case for Eimhear, 13, from Portadown who has been playing the harp for four years.
“I started learning the harp because of my great granda… there’s always music being played in my house and at family parties. My uncles and cousins also play so I wanted to do it too.”
