December 2011

As we come to the end of 20111 along comes talented film maker Alice Toner with her wonderful video diary of the concert in The Peoples Park, the finale of the 2011 Ukulele Hooley By The Sea.
It was a a great weekend and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, especially all the good folk who came to watch and stayed for the day.
We would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make the weekend happen, you were a joy to work with!
And finally, thanks to all the artists who came from far and near and gave so generously of their time and music.
Now for 2012

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

It’s tomorrow! Uke Busk For Focus Ireland

Market in Peoples Park Dun Laoghaire
2.30pm Sunday 18th December

At this festive but very cold time, its easy to forget the people who are homeless and every year we read about the unfortunate ones who have been found dead sleeping rough. Focus Ireland do great work providing accommodation, food and shelter but they need constant funding to help them keep with this essential work.

So, Rachel Ward, has through her own efforts undertaken to organise a “Uke Busk for Focus Ireland” at the Market in The People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire on Sunday December 18th @ 2pm.

It would great if as many ukulele players as possible could turn up with their ukes on the day and give about an hour and half of their time to play and sing for this really good cause.

Download the Focus Ireland Uke Busk Songbook

Print it off for yourself to practice!
So if you can spare a couple of hours tomorrow Subnday, we would love to see you ~ Happy Christmas Folks.

LOS ANGELES — Ukulele player Bill Tapia, believed to be the oldest performing musician in the world, died on Friday at the age of 103, his official website said.

Honolulu-born Tapia, who played with the likes of Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby, died in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles, the website said.
Tapia, whose nickname was Tappy, died just six months after releasing his latest album — a live version of his 100th birthday concert celebration — and one month short of what would have been his 104th birthday in January 2012.
Tapia started his career entertaining troops from World War I and later worked on steamships between the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii. He became a teacher to Hollywood stars including Clark Gable and Shirley Temple when a ukulele craze hit the United States.
After World War II, Tapia moved to San Francisco and worked for years as a guitar teacher until making a comeback in 2004, age of 96, with the release of a CD featuring jazz and Hawaiian standards.
Tapia was inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame in 2004 and continued to tour until 2010.

It’s Christmas party time again folks and to help us all ease our way into the season the Uke Ireland Christmas Party is happening on Saturday December 10th at the Gingerman Pub so grab your uke as many friends as you like and come celebrate