SIXTY young traditional musicians who learn through Oidhreacht Chiarraí have been certified following the 2026 Scrúdú Ceol Tíre (SCT) examinations run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
Their success was celebrated at a special event at the Dúchas Comhaltas Centre at MTU Kerry on Friday, August 28
Guests of honour were acclaimed traditional musicians and teachers Nicky and Anne McAuliffe, who performed alongside the young musicians on stage.
Continued below…
All-Ireland champion accordion player John Lucid from Ballyheigue was also a guest musician, adding to a memorable evening for the young performers.
The evening also featured performances by Oidhreacht Chiarraí’s 2025–26 Students of the Year, Seán Lynch on accordion and Keelin Walsh on concertina.
Both were among the learners certified in this year’s SCT examinations, and their performances were a particular highlight.
SCT is Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s graded examination system for Irish traditional music. Each student prepares a programme of traditional music and performs it before an external examiner, who also assesses repertoire, aural skills, theory and musical knowledge.
Research also forms part of the requirements at the higher grades. The programme provides a structured pathway from Elementary level through Grades 1–8 to Performance Diploma.
Michelle O’Sullivan, founder of Oidhreacht Chiarraí, said: “The SCT examinations demand a great deal of commitment and preparation from our learners, and to have 60 of them successfully certified this year is a stellar achievement. They have worked incredibly hard and shown tremendous dedication to their music. Seeing them receive their certificates and then take to the stage to perform together was a very proud moment for all of us at Oidhreacht Chiarraí.”
