| Popis: |
Born in the south west of Ireland, my engagement with Irish traditional music was developed at an early age through my local community. My sense of place was reinforced by the narratives of that community, where I became involved with Siamsa Tíre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, whose focus is at a regional level (Foley, 2013; Kearney, 2013b, 2013c), and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann,[1] an organisation for the promotion of Irish culture, most active in the field of music and which operates through a network of local branches (see Henry, 1989; Fleming, 2004; Kearney, 2013a). I moved to the southern city of Cork to attend university and became part of the music community there. When I finished my undergraduate studies in geography, I returned to music, seeking to understand the geographies of the music that I enjoyed learning and performing. My academic studies gave me new perspectives on my own culture, my music and the places where I live and work. Undertaking teaching roles as both a lecturer and instrument tutor further increased my engagement with concepts and the wider community of musical practice. In the paper I acknowledge music and space/place as co-constitutive and the process of identity formation for both the region and the academic institution is intertwined (see Leyshon, Matless and Revill, 1998). |
