WIRRAL schoolchildren are being given the opportunity to get to grips with the traditional sounds of Celtic folk.

Celtic Roots Community Music Academy specialises in the provision of Celtic music programmes and tuition for children and adults, teaching them how to play traditional folk instruments including the tin whistle, Irish drum, fiddle, flute, accordion and banjo.

With workshops held at Thornton Hough Village Club – one of the most up and coming folk music scenes in the Northwest - the programme has become a real hit and has created a socially inclusive community through music, dance, art and drama.

To mark the non-profit organisation’s success, Celtic Roots is now able to offer three Wirral schools a free course of music workshops aimed for Key Stage 2 pupils.

Lesley-Ann Wood, headteacher and founder of Celtic Roots, said: “There will be 10 free places available for children who will have shown an aptitude, talent and enthusiasm for music that will have been identified by our professionals with the assistance of the school and their staff.

“Ideally we would like the free places to go to the most disadvantaged children to give them an introductory musical experience for one term.”

Children will be provided with music instruments to borrow and those who show real potential will be put forward for one of the five scholarship places available during the following academic year.

Celtic Roots runs a variety of weekly workshops including children’s Ceilidh dances classes, Celtic music sessions, Bodhran Band workshops, jazz piano classes and ukulele workshops.

A music club cafe aimed at teenagers is also set to be introduced in the near future.

The group’s band – The Rooters – celebrated their first anniversary earlier this month and will be performing as part of the Thornton Hough Music Festival in June.

Family tickets for the June 17 event are just £5, with adult tickets priced at £8.

Any school that would like to be nominated for the Celtic Roots free workshops should have their head or music co-ordinator apply in writing stating why they think that their school should be chosen before the closing date of April 6.

Send your application to Mrs Lesley-Ann Wood, Celtic Roots Community Music Academy, Thornton Hough Village Club, Thornton Common Road, CH63 1JL.