2016 List of Tutors

"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 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”.

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.

- 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

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.

Tara Connaghan is a highly regarded fiddle player from Glenties, Co. Donegal, in the North West of Ireland. Along with fellow Donegal fiddler, Derek McGinley, she released a well received recording in 2011, The Far Side of the Glen, focusing solely on the fiddle style and repertoire of south west Donegal, grant aided by the Arts Council (Ireland).

‘This is not the “flashy” playing so often heard today; each note is given its chance to express itself properly – the music talks to you, as it should. No excessive speed, no attempts at fusion with other styles, just good, honest Donegal fiddling as we used to hear it years ago...’

John Waltham, The Living Tradition Magazine, UK

Tara studied music at University College Cork and received a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the University of Limerick. She also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Administration and a 3 year couse with Na Píobairí Uilleann in learning to make the Irish uilleann pipes.

She worked in arts administration and management from 2004 – 2013 in various positions such as Festival Director of the Éigse Carlow Arts Festival, Traditional Arts Specialist in the Arts Office of Clare County Council and as one of the Arts Council’s network of advisors for their traditional arts funding scheme Deis where she mentored, guided and assisted traditional artists in creating funding proposals.

She returned home to Donegal in 2014 to work in the family business following the death of her father where she continues to play and work on creative projects. She is the recent recipient of a Music Network Music Capital Scheme Award in 2015 for a Noel Burke violin bow.

Ciaran Tourish hails from Buncrana in East Co. Donegal. Although Ciaran started playing the tin whistle at an early age, he soon took up the fiddle under the guidance of local legendary fiddler and teacher, Dinny McLaughlin.

In addition to his mastery of the dance music tradition, Ciaran’s quick ear, love of harmony and counterpoint have led to his talent being in demand as a valued collaborator on non-Altan and even non-Irish music projects with a wide range of musicians and singers including Paul Brady, Matt Molloy, Mary Black, Maura O’Connell, Máirtín O’Connor, Dolores Keane, Dé Danann and American musicians, Jerry Douglas and Tim O’Brien.

He released his first solo recording “Down the Line” in 2005 featuring guest musicians Arty McGlynn, Paul Brady, Maura O’Connell, Tim O’Brien, Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas among others.

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.

Gráinne Hambly from Claremorris, County Mayo started to play Irish music on the tin whistle at an early age, before moving on to the concertina and later the harp. In 1999 she completed a Masters Degree in Musicology at Queen's University Belfast, with her main research topic being folk music collections and the harp in 18th-century Ireland. Since then she has toured extensively, both as a soloist and with various groups, travelling throughout Europe, Israel, Japan and the USA, giving concerts, workshops and masterclasses. Known for the sensitivity and expressive quality of her air-playing, as well as her dynamic performance of dance tunes, Gráinne's playing illustrates the full range and scope of the Irish harp. She has featured on a number of recordings and has released three critically acclaimed solo CDs plus a collaborative recording with Scottish harper William Jackson.

www.grainnehambly.com

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".

Dónal McCague, described by Matt Molloy as “a remarkable musician”, from Co. Monaghan is TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2013. Dónal is well known for his vibrant, fresh and unique style. In 2011 he released his début solo CD entitled Bits’n’Pieces. He has twice performed at the Frankie Gavin International Fiddle Festival; Galway 2005 & the National Concert Hall Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day 2006.

He has performed on Irish TV programs such as Geantraí, Imeall & Gradam Ceoil on TG4 and on the Fleadh Program on RTE 1 as well as national radio on numerous occasions.

He was won awards at both the Fiddler of Dooney, Sligo Live and the Fiddler of Oriel, Monaghan and is greatly influenced by the fiddle playing of Tommy Peoples, Séamus Quinn, Bryan Rooney, John Carty and Frankie Gavin.

In recent times, Dónal has recorded on Michael McCague's album of self compositions entitled "The Waylaid Man" with John McSherry, Oisin MacDiarmada, Brian McGrath & Nollaig Casey and recorded on & arranged the material for "Our Dear Dark Mountain with the Sky Over It". This album of traditional Irish music features music sourced in the 18th & 19th centuries from the Sliabh Beagh area of Monaghan, Fermanagh & Tyrone. It has been unearthed by "Teada" member, Seán McElwain in a recent PHD study on the music of the region. This album has recently been rewarded at Gradam Ceoil TG4, 2016

www.deardarkmountain.com

On stage, Dónal has been the only ever substitute for Oisín MacDiarmada in the well-known band “Téada”. He has also performed with the “John Carty Festival Band” & “At First Light” and with members of De Dannan, The Chieftains & The Bothy Band as well as with Matt Molloy, Liam O Flynn, Frankie Gavin, John Carty, Tommy Peoples, Dónal Lunny, John McSherry, Oisin MacDiarmada, Sharon Shannon & Dermot Byrne to name a few.

Dónal is in constant demand as a workshop tutor and stage performer, both in Ireland and abroad.

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.

Mark began learning the uilleann pipes in the Wexford Pipers Club in 2001. After its closure he received tuition at various tionóls and master-classes throughout the country. At underage Mark won Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann and All Ireland Oireachtas titles.

In recent years he has gained vast experience as a performer and teacher. Performing throughout the world, he has performed as soloist with the RTE Concert Orchestra, RTE National Symphony Orchestra (including as soloist on the occasion of the state visit of Queen Elisabeth II to Ireland, on which occasion he also played with world famous pop group Westlife.), the Savannah Philharmonic in Georgia, USA and the Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne, Rennes. In 2013 he was recorded on solo pipes for the new theme tune for the popular TV programme Nationwide (composed by Golden Globe nominated film composer Brian Byrne) with RTE Concert Orchestra.

When the Eucharistic Congress was held in Ireland in 2012, Mark played solo during the closing mass at Croke Park in front of over 70,000 people and a worldwide live television audience.

Mark has toured globally with the Irish Harp Orchestra/ Riverdance/ Celtic Legends/ Clare Memory Orchestra and as a soloist piper. He also performed for the Mayor of Beijing in collaboration with members of the Beijing Conservatory of Music in Dublin City Hall in 2011.

On regular occasions Mark collaborates with the organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin for annual events such as Love Live Music Day and the Templebar Tradfest. In 2014 they released a CD combining the traditional lament repertoire with music of the French Classical Organ School.

He received a First Class Honours Degree from the Conservatory of Music and Drama in DIT Rathmines, Dublin, in 2011 and completed an Honours Masters in Music at DIT in 2012.

Martin comes from a family of musicians and raconteurs of traditional stories from the town land of Carricknagavna just outside the village of Mullaghabane in South Armagh.

At an early age Martin was exposed to traditional Irish music through the singing of his mother Mary and also grandfather John Ned Quinn.

Martin took up the accordion in 1981 and since has become regarded as one of its finest exponent's. He also composes music in the traditional idiom.

Martin began his professional career as a musician in 1994, to date he has toured with various bands including Lá Lugh and Dorsa, performing and teaching workshops at major festivals in France, Norway, Finland, Italy,Switzerland, Britain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Romania, Spain, Japan and the USA.

He has featured on TV and radio nationally and internationally and has contributed to Paul Bradley’s fine solo album "The Atlantic Roar" and has guested on Composer Josephine Keegan‘s double CD ‘Lifeswork’ contributing 2 tracks and also 2 tracks to Dundalk fiddler Gerry O’Connor’s CD ‘Journey Man’

In 2003, Martin along with Angelina Carberry released their self titled CD.

The CD received critical acclaim across the Traditional music world, being included in the top 10 list of Traditional recordings of that year compiled by renowned Music columnist Earle Hitchner of the Irish Echo, one of America’s leading Irish newspapers.

In 2005 Martin contributed 2 tracks to Angelina’s solo album an Traidisiún Beo as well as producing the project.

In 2006 Martin was invited alongside Fiddler Gerry O’Connor and the redoubtable Cathal Mc Connell to take part in the Music Network tour of Ireland featuring the Music and Song of South Ulster.

Following on from that tour Martin recorded the CD 'Jig Away the Donkey' with Gerry O'Connor on fiddle and Fermanagh Singer and Concertina player Gabriel McArdle featuring the music and song of south Ulster. The CD was launched at the Larkin Hedge School in Dublin by President elect Michael D.Higgins.

Martin currently performs with the Band Oirialla alongside Gerry O’Connor on Fiddle, Nuala Kennedy Flute and songs and Breton Guitarist Gilles Le Bigot.

Oirialla launched their first CD in 2012 at the Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton Island.

When not busy performing, Martin is in keen demand as an accordion restorer and tuner/repairer and owner of Lisheen Accordions and also as an accordion tutor .

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.

Born in 1972, Tom, from Glenageary, Co. Dublin has been playing for some years in both classical and traditional music circles, in Ireland and abroad. With lessons from Vincent Broderick and influences from many musicians including Séamus Mac Mathúna and Matt Molloy, Tom has established his own style over the years. Widely regarded amongst musicians as a master flautist, he is known for his wild and unpredictable melodic and harmonic variations and for his tenderness of treatment in playing for songs.

As a young musician himself, Tom is very aware of the knowledge and encouragement he was given whilst learning by the musicians he regarded highly, so when not on tour performing with Danú, he pursues his second love in life - teaching both classical and traditional flute to the next generation.

Joining the group in 1996, he has become very well known to audiences as a great storyteller in both English and Irish and with a very tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. Usually the spokesperson of the group, Tom has become the very public face of Danú and is known as a very approachable, friendly and light-hearted person. Yet privately, Tom is someone who takes the history and the playing of the music very seriously and his love, commitment and dedication to Irish music should never be underestimated.

Jim became interested in traditional music with a group of like-minded friends and was taught by musicians like Des Leech, Darach de Brún and Mary Bergin. He was also lucky enough to have as contemporaries many great musicians like Dubliners Paul O’Shaughnessy and Mick and Denis O’Brien, and Kerry fiddler Maire O’Keefe. As well as these musicians, his flute playing was strongly influenced by the flowing styles of players like Paddy Carty and Paddy Taylor and later by the rhythm and playing of Donegal music. He is interested in the music of the North Dublin area and plays many tunes with local associations. He is married to harpist and fiddle player, Siobhan Bhreathnach and lives in Skerries.

A highly regarded concertina player from Dublin, Jacinta has given numerous concertina workshops and performed at many festivals throughout Ireland and abroad, including the Willie Clancy Summer School, Seamus Ennis Festival, the Skerries Festival and Martin Hayes's 'Masters of Tradition series in Bantry House. Known for her work with young traditional musicians she has successfully prepared a number of groups for performances at the 'Siansa' Gael Linn competitions and has tutored a number of Ceili bands and Grupai Cheoil for County and All Ireland Fleadh competitions. She also plays concertina on the 'Irish Traditional Fiddle' CD with her husband John McEvoy. More recently Jacinta has been recording with her new group Gatehouse, and their CD is due to be launched this summer.

Banjo player Marcus Moloney is an east limerick man now residing in Ennis co Clare. Now in his forties, he has toured the U.S, Australia ,Africa and many parts of Europe with various groups. He has appeared on several albums and is held in high esteem for his imaginative , percussive improvisational style. An excellent teacher for the last 27 years, he is in huge demand for his flambuoyant technique and eclectic repertoire of foreign and Irish material .

Brian Mooney hails from Brosna in County Kerry and presently lives in Ennis Co. Clare. His main influences as a young player would have included Kevin Griffin,John Carty, Brian McGrath and Kieran Hanrahan to name but a few and the traditional stylings of these players can be heard in his playing to this day.

It was noted in Brian’s formative years that his banjo style was naturally rhythmic which lead him to showing an interest in traditional accompaniment on the bouzouki.
Brian has featured on a number of traditional albums such as ‘’The Forgotten Gems’’ Peter Carberry and Padraig McGovern, “Plucking Mad” Angelina Carberry, “The Lark’s Air” Dan Brouder ,“Chords and Beryls” Edel Fox, " Rooska Hill" Eamonn O Riordan and Tony O Connell.

Brian has recently become a member of the Traditional group Caladh Nua and has since toured parts of the Uk, Europe and USA.