2015 List of Tutors

Mary Bergin

Mary Bergin

Just about the best Tin Whistle player this century,” is how the Irish Times referred to Mary in a recent interview.
She was born into a very musical family and began playing at an early age winning many awards in Oireachtas and Fleadh Ceoil competitions, including the All-Ireland Championships at Junior and Senior level.

In 1990, Mary, together with musicians Kathleen Loughnane and Dearbhaill Standun, formed the group “Dordan” whose particular and distinctive mix of traditional Irish and European baroque music has achieved wide acclaim, receiving the National Entertainment Award for traditional music in 1993. Dordan have recorded 4 CDs.

In 2000, Mary herself won the prestigious “Traditional Musician of the Year Award.”

Mary Bergin’s playing is a, “dazzling combination of technique and passion.”

Máire_O'Keeffe

Máire O’Keeffe

Máire O’Keeffe is a fiddle player, originally from Tralee, Co. Kerry but now living in Kinvara, Co. Galway. She learned to play the fiddle from Castleisland musician, Nicky McAuliffe and her many influences include the fiddle traditions of her native Kerry as well as the fiddling of Donegal and Clare musicians.

She has long had an avid interest in the fiddle music of Scotland, Shetland and particularly the fiddle and piano based traditions of Cape Breton Island in Canada where she was artist in residence at the internationally renowned Celtic Colours Festival in 2009. Máire has given fiddle workshops all over the world including a nine month stint during the early 1990s as a visiting Irish Traditional Music teacher in Australia.

For many years she was a fiddle tutor at the Willie Clancy Summer School and for the past number of years she has presented a much sought after “performance class” at the school where students are afforded an opportunity to listen to and interact with some of the legendary fiddle players in Irish traditional music.

In Oct 2010, Máire was awarded a Ph.D. at the University of Limerick for a study entitled,“Journey into Tradition: A Social History of the Irish Button Accordion”.

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Danny O’ Mahony

Danny O’ Mahony is a traditional musician from Ballyduff in North County Kerry. He grew up playing music with the older generation of musicians in his locality. His late father Mick had a very positive influence on Danny as a young child and nurtured his keen ear and interest in traditional Irish music. Danny’s musical style is expressive and deeply personal, and reflects his affinity with the music of past masters. Both imaginative and fearless in his interpretation, Danny’s performance abilities have been acknowledged through winning Junior & Senior All-Ireland titles and graduating from the University of Limerick with a Masters in Performance.

In May 2011, Danny released his long awaited and critically acclaimed debut solo recording ‘In Retrospect‘ accompanied by Patsy Broderick on piano, Cyril O’ Donoghue on bouzouki and Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh on percussion. More recently he has collaborated with concertina maestro Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh to release their duet album aptly titled ‘As it Happened‘.

www.dannyomahony.com

Mick-O-Brien

Mick O'Brien

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Mick began his musical education on the Uilleann Pipes in the renowned Thomas Street Pipers Club in Dublin. His father Dinny O’Brien, a traditional “box” player, was also a constant source of tunes and inspiration. Mick recorded his first LP with his family when he was 13 years old. He later joined Na Píobairí Uilleann, an organisation founded to promote piping, where he absorbed hundreds of tunes and refined his technique. His playing can be heard on numerous recordings with artists such as The Dubliners, Frankie Gavin and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Mick has toured extensively and given master classes throughout Europe and North America. His highly acclaimed solo CD of traditional Irish music; “May Morning Dew” was released in 1996.  In 2003, Mick released Kitty Lie Over along with fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. It was named No.1 Traditional Album of 2003 by Earle Hitchner in the Irish Echo.

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Mick Conneely

- Musician and Teacher
Fiddle | Greek Bouzouki

Mick is one of the most acclaimed and respected fiddle players in the Irish tradition. To date he has played, toured and recorded with many artists, most notably De Danann. In 2001 his debut solo album ‘Selkie’ was released to critical acclaim on the prestigious boutique trad label Cló Iar-Chonnacht and he has recorded on numerous albums to date. Mick is a leading exponent of the 6-string Greek bouzouki in Irish traditional music.

www.mickconneely.com

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Siobhan Peoples

Siobhan Peoples has been teaching Traditional Irish fiddle for over twenty years. In that time, she has taught yearly at the Willie Clancy Summer School and the annual fiddle week in Glencolmcille, run by Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí, in Co Donegal.

These two schools are a good overview of her fiddling backgroung, being of Clare and Donegal parentage.
She has also been the main fiddle tutor at the University of Limerick for the past thirteen years and is known there for her holistic style of teaching. She also believes in creating a relaxed atmosphere so the passing and learning of the tradition can flow as freely as possible.

Siobhan also plays and teaches all over Ireland and Europe.

Con Fada Ó Drisceoil

Con “Fada” Ó Drisceoil

A songwriter and accordion player from West Cork.

He plays a C#D Paolo Soprani and has a great interest in the music of the Sliabh Luachra area, with a special admiration for Jackie Daly and the late Johnny O’Leary. With Johnny McCarthy (fiddle and flute) and Pat Herring Ahern (guitar and bass mandolin) he is member of The Four Star Trio, a mature boy-band.


Con has been writing comic songs for three decades on a wide range of subjects which includes canine castration, Shakespearean tragedy, unwelcome percussionists and the wildlife of County Clare.


In 2009 he received the Composer’s award at Gradam Ceoil TG4.

 

Louise-Mulcahy

Louise Mulcahy

From Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, Louise Mulcahy is a well-established performer and tutor on both flute and uilleann pipes. Louise has recently released her highly acclaimed début solo album titled “Tuning the Road”, alongside three album releases with father, Mick, and sister Michelle.

Louise also appeared a number of years ago on Na Píobairí Uilleann’s compilation of young pipers entitled “A New Dawn’.. Louise has toured extensively throughout the world including performances in Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, America and Canada.

Louise has been a guest tutor and performer at many festivals across the globe including Augusta Irish Week in the United States, The Catskills Irish week, Ceol Aneas- New Zealand, The Willie Clancy Summer School, Masters of Tradition Festival in Bantry and Cruinniú na bhFliúit, Baile Bhuirne and The Templebar Trad Fest amongst others.

Louise has recently been awarded Female Musician of the Year at the Live Ireland Awards 2015. “ Louise is one of the finest musicians of her generation”.  -  Matt Molloy

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MacDara Ó Raghallaigh

MacDara Ó Raghallaigh is one of the well known musical Ó Raghallaigh family from County Meath.
His fiddle playing is often described as ‘brilliant’, ‘amazing’, ‘top class’.  These accolades indeed fit well as MacDara has earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s outstanding fiddle players. His playing style is highly individual, personal and deeply rooted in the pure tradition. What strikes you is the personality and flair in the music and the driving rhythm and pulse that is delivered by a powerful fluid bow hand.  

MacDara has achieved many All Ireland honours in solo, duet, trio, and céilí band competitions through all the age groups at the Fleadhanna Cheoil, including the All Ireland Senior Fiddle at Clonmel in 1992.

He is also a winner of the Oireachtas and Fiddler of  Dooney fiddle competitions.  MacDara is well known as both a performer and teacher. Apart from local classes in the Meath, Kildare and Dublin area, he teaches annually at Scoil Éigse at the All Ireland Fleadh.

He has also given numerous workshops and performed both in Ireland and abroad, including France, Britain, Luxembourg and the USA.

Andrea_Gallagher

Andrea Gallagher

Andrea Gallagher grew up in Newhaggard, Lusk and started playing music at the age of 7.
Andrea’s late grandfather Maurice Murphy passed on a love of Irish music with both spending many hours sharing the delights of wonderful tunes and airs while encouraging Andrea to enjoy and develop a deep respect and enjoyment of our traditional Irish music.

The great musician, Mick Mongey, was also a significant influence on Andrea during those precious early years of learning and she spent many happy years learning beautiful music from Mick while attending Kinsealy Comhaltas Branch.

Andrea has made great friends through her music particularly during the many years spent travelling with to Europe USA & Canada with Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.

John-OBrien

John O’Brien

John O' Brien plays both Pipes and Whistle and hails from one of Ireland’s prominent musical families. He studied classical piano at the Dublin College of Music from an early age. At 13 he began playing uilleann pipes learning from his older brother Mick O’ Brien who is one of Ireland’s foremost pipers.

John has toured extensively in the U.S, Europe and Japan since his early teens and performed in venues from Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall in New York to The Apollo Theatre in London. He joined Riverdance - The Lagan Company in late 1997 before becoming the uilleann piper with Riverdance on Broadway in 2001. John has also featured as a solo artist on numerous commercial DVD recordings including Live at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The Voice of Hope with Tommy Fleming and the platinum selling DVDs 'Celtic Woman' and 'Celtic Woman A New Journey'. His television credits include the RTÉ series The Island plus various other programmes for RTÉ, BBC and UTV. 

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Seán Ryan

Best known for his distinctive style of whistle playing, Sean Ryan has performed on national and international stages for many years. He has played and taught at all the major Irish festivals as well as festivals in France, Japan and the USA and tutors regularly at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. Sean holds a senior All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil whistle title and has recorded two solo whistle albums, "Siúil Uait - Take the Air" and "Minstrels Fancy".

He is delighted to be part ofSkerries Trad Festival ! Best known for his distinctive style of whistle playing, Sean Ryan has performed on national and international stages for many years. He has played and taught at all the major Irish festivals as well as festivals in France, Japan and the USA and tutors regularly at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. Sean holds a senior All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil whistle title and has recorded two solo whistle albums, "Siúil Uait - Take the Air" and "Minstrels Fancy".

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Shane Cook

Shane Cook is a three-time Canadian Open National fiddle champion and is the only foreigner to win the US Grand National Fiddle Championship. Shane has distinguished himself as a leading exponent of the Canadian old-time fiddle tradition and enjoys playing an array of fiddle styles ranging from Irish and Scottish to French-Canadian, Texan, and Bluegrass. cShane has six solo recordings and leads his own group. Shane also performs regularly with several ensembles including Stepcrew and the PBS hit, Bowfire, and has toured extensively in Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, Germany, China and Taiwan. He is a graduate of UWO and resides in London, Ontario.

www.shanecook.com

Mairéad_Casey

Mairéad Casey

Dancing Tutor – hails from Newtowncashel in the South-West of County Longford, an area surrounded by Lough Ree. She grew up in a household where the love of music was endemic. Her parents Bridgie and James (Hanley), both unfortunately deceased, extended huge hospitality to musicians, dancers, singers, neighbours and friends. Her father played the fiddle and she started dancing at a very young age around the kitchen floor. At the age of ten she attended the Kitty Carberry School of Dancing where over a period of three years she won many championships. It was on meeting with Mick Mulkerrin in 1995 that her interest in Sean-Nós dancing started. Since then she has been teaching both Set Dancing and Sean-Nós Dancing at festivals all over Ireland, Europe and America.

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Michelle Mulcahy

Michelle Mulcahy is one of Ireland’s most talented and gifted multi-instrumentalists in Irish traditional music today. She is considered to be one of Ireland’s most adroit and creative harpers. “Her revolutionary style on the harp is scintillating-played with power and panache, no concession to the complexity of the instrument, confirming her as one of the most significant musicians redefining harp at present’- The Living Tradition. She is a regular performer and tutor worldwide and has toured extensively in Europe, United States, Canada, China, Australia and Vietnam. Michelle has three highly acclaimed albums recorded by American record label Shanachie and Irish record label Chlo- Iar Chonnachta. She was awarded the prestigious TG4 Young Musician of the Year in 2006 and was also awarded Female Musician of the Year in 2005 at the
Live-Ireland awards in the United States and also in 2013 for her solo album Suaimhneas.

Michelle completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in UCC. She progressed on to postgraduate study at the University of Limerick where she graduated with a first class Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology and in the following year in Music Education. She has also just recently graduated with her PhD from the University of Limerick in 2014.


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TROY BANNON

Troy Bannon is a flute player from County Meath with a strong rhythmic traditional style. He has played all over Europe, America and the UK with various outfits over the years, the most notable of which were Providence with whom he recorded the album 'Providence III' in 2005 and also made many TV appearances including the TG4 music show Geantraí. He is also a member of the 3 time all-Ireland winning Naomh Pádraig Céilí Band. Troy has taught at workshops all over the world and also teaches a regular class in his home county of Meath.

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John McEvoy

Dancing Tutor.  Well known as a set dancing teacher, dancer and CéilI MC in North Dublin, Meath and Louth to name but a few.    John was instrumental in establishing set dancing classes in Co. Louth and is the chief organiser of the Annual Termonfeckin Set Dancing Weekend in An Grianán, Co. Louth for the last thirteen years.   John remains actively involved in promoting ‘the sets’ as well as the old style step dancing and along with many set dancers and musicians they travel to several venues in Germany, England and Italy giving workshop weekends.

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Alan Byrne

A traditional tenor banjo player from Dublin. His playing can be heard at sessions throughout the Fingal area and at festivals nationwide. Alan holds a senior all Ireland banjo title and has toured with CCE on several occasions. 

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Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh

Concertina master Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh is a member of one of Ireland’s most loved musical families in Co. Meath and he has been feted as a virtuoso since his teens, moving on to perform with many groups including Providence and 3-time All-Ireland Ceili Band Champions, 'The Tain Ceili Band'.

Mícheál is also a concertina teacher of vast experience, and is widely sought after for his expertise and hands-on skills at many of the summer schools and workshops held throughout the country and overseas. Mícheál's concertina playing achieves a great balance of traditional sound and personal expression.

He has performed on radio and television both nationally and internationally, including 'The Mountain Lark', 'The Pure Drop', and other traditional music programmes. A seasoned traveller as well as performer, he has toured widely within Europe including the UK, Scandanavia, in addition to the USA and Canada.

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