Blossom Beats charity concert to light up Drumshanbo this March

Music, song and dance will take centre stage in Drumshanbo next month as students from the Leitrim College Music Course prepare to host their annual charity concert.

“Blossom Beats!” will take place at 8pm on Friday, March 6, 2026, in the Mayflower Centre, Drumshanbo, with all proceeds going to the Sligo Cancer Support Centre.

Now in its 20th consecutive year, the popular concert is organised and performed by students and tutors of the Music Course, which is part of the recently established Leitrim College of Further Education and Training.

This year’s event is being coordinated by part-time students, who attend the course two days per week over two years.

The 2026 theme, Blossom Beats, is inspired by the traditional reel “The Blackberry Blossom”, reflecting the seasonal spirit of the concert. Audiences can look forward to an energetic evening of music, song, dance and entertainment, delivered with the students’ trademark enthusiasm and humour.

Students have been rehearsing since September 2025, arranging and preparing a varied programme in support of the chosen charity.

Tickets cost €10 and will be available on the door from 7pm (cash only). Children under 12 go free. A raffle will also be held on the night, with prizes donated by generous local businesses, while refreshments will be served during the interval.

The Music Course was established in 1997, building on the success of the Joe Mooney Summer School, which attracts musicians from across Ireland and abroad. Funded and administered by Leitrim College of Further Education and Training, part of the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), the course welcomes adults of all ages, abilities and musical backgrounds.

Students learn through both aural and written methods and gain experience in arranging, performing, staging and hosting events, while also developing practical skills for the music industry.

Two study options are currently available — a one-year full-time course and a two-year part-time course — both leading to a Level 5 QQI Music Award.

Leitrim College also offers QQI courses in Business Administration, Tourism and Ecotourism, Food Science, Health and Nutrition, Equine Studies, Sports and Leisure Management with Outdoor Activities, Healthcare Service Skills and Digital Entrepreneurship with AI. All courses are free, with funding available through the Back-to-Education scheme and SUSI grants.

For further information, contact Edel Mollohan (P.R.O.) on 087 8186969 or 25EdelMollohan@leitrimcollege.ie , or Mossie Martin (Tutor) on 087 7640332 or mossiemartin@msletb.ie