Ms. Theresa Bourke, Course Director,

Theresa’s teaching career started when she gained her traditional Irish music teachers qualification, Teastas I dTeagas Ceolta Tire, in 1993 awarded by the national association of Irish music, Comhaltas Ceoltoiti Eireann.

In 1993 Theresa was asked to join the acclaimed Irish music, song and dance show, Bru Boru, which she was a member of for 7 years.

After completing her secondary school education at the Ursuline convent, Thurles, Theresa gained a B.A. Music with English degree at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth in 1997 and followed that with Higher Diploma in Education, Trinity College Dublin. 1998.

Theresa taught music and english in various secondary schools in Dublin and returned to persue an M.A. in Traditional Irish music performance at the University of Limerick. in 2001

Following this Theresa embarked on a world tour as a professional fiddle player with internationally renowned Irish dance shows Spirit of Ireland and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. Theresa spent 3 years touring and performing in pristigous venues in over 40 countries throughout the world.

Theresa left Lord of the Dance to establish Fiddlers Retreat and still finds the time to travel, perform and teach Irish music abroad when the opportunities arises.

n 2007 Theresa gained a Higher Diploma in Public Relations, with Irish
Academy of Public Relations at University College Dublin and during the
same time, took part in a Business Management Development Programme through Tipperary County Enterprise Board and the Institute of Technology Waterford.

In her spare time Theresa also is also a member of Rotary International, the world’s first service club charity and is a member of The Rotary Club of Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, district 1160.