We held a record 32 classes each week during the first term and enrolled a total of 160 pupils. Pupils come from all over Co. Armagh as well as Tyrone, Down, Monaghan, Antrim and Louth. Our first term also gave our pupils and their families an opportunity to hear a lot of wonderful music, not only from Ireland, but from all over the world.

The 7th year of Trad at the Trian featured singers: Stephanie Makem, Joe Mulherron, Eileen Webster, Barry Kerr, Cathal Lynch, John Faulkner and Patricia Vallely, and instrumentalists: Zoe Conway and Dónal Donnelly (fiddle), Mícheál Ó Raghailligh (concertina), Brian McGrath (banjo), Martin Donahue (accordion), Patsy Hanley (flute) and Peter Brown (pipes)

“Sruth na Maoile” performed at the William Kennedy Piping Festival, at the Charlie Donnelly Winter School in Coalisland and at a Scottish/Irish Conference in Belfast Castle.

“Fidil” played support to The Chieftains in Armagh City Hotel, at the Charlie Donnelly Winter School and performed at Fiddle Fair in Baltimore, Co. Cork

“Cruit is Píob” gave a concert during the William Kennedy Piping Festival and travelled to Glasgow in August for “Piping Live”, where they played in the Royal Concert Hall and The Piping Centre.

“Armagh Harpers” performed at a wide range of events including a CCÉ concert in Portmore.

A group of senior musicians played at Armagh’s May Day Festival in the City Centre.

Barry Kerr, Caoimhín Vallely, Martin & Sorcha Meehan were involved in Dubblejoint Theatre Company’s acclaimed play “The Session” which went on tour throughout Ireland.

A group of pipers from the Club travelled to Slough in October to take part in the Dave Williams Memorial weekend.

The William Kennedy Festival brought piping enthusiasts from all over the world to Armagh to hear musicians such as Marzoug from Algeria, Tejedor from Asturias, Na Trí Seudan, Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson Band, Breabach and Scottish Power Pipe Band from Scotland, Arche from Italy, Irish bands the Chieftains, At First Light, Ballinderry Pipe Band as well as a host of amazing soloists from various parts of Europe.

Niall, Caoimhín and Cillian Vallely were invited to give a concert in the Marketplace Theatre in December with guests Karan Casey, Trevor Hutchinson and Manus Lunny.

Burns Night in January brought in the New Year with a night of great Scottish music, dance, poetry and food.

The 40th Anniversary celebrations began in April with the Annual Concert in the Marketplace Theatre which involved every pupil in the Club and featured a newly composed piece of music entitled “40”. The piece was commissioned from composer Niall Vallely and involved over 60 musicians from the senior classes.

The year came to a close with a concert by the amazing Chicago fiddler, Liz Carroll and singer/accompanist John Doyle who played to a packed house in St. Patrick’s Trian.

As part of the 40th Anniversary celebration the Club is currently engaged in recording a double CD which will feature the current group of musicians as well as musicians and singers who were involved in the Club or began their musical education there. A number of solo tracks have already been recorded under the direction of Caoimhín Vallely and sound engineer Donncha Moynihan.

Two TV programmes were recorded at the beginning of the summer. BBC’s “SRL” programme included interviews with Brian Vallely and Eamonn Curran on the new pipe-making workshop and music was provided by Brian, Eithne & Cillian Vallely. TG4’s “Geantraí” series was recorded in Red Ned’s, and this programme will be broadcast in the Autumn.

A number of teachers from the Club were involved in various Summer Schools - Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn taught pipes at the Willie Clancy Summer School and Drumshambo Summer School, while Patricia Daly taught harp at the Francis McPeake Summer School in Belfast.