2024 Performers

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.

Paudie O'Connor and Aoife Ní Chaoimh are an accordion and fiddle duet from County Kerry. Their music is heavily influenced by the The Sliabh Lauchra musical tradition of East Kerry and North Cork. In 2014 they released the highly acclaimed album Didn’t She Dance and Dance which paid homage to the their musical heroes such as Johnny O Leary, Padraig O Keefe and Julia Clifford. Paudie has also released the critically acclaimed solo album Different State and a duet album with Riverdance Uilleann Piper John O Brien. Paudie and Aoife have performed on numerous TV productions, most recently Tradfest TG4.

Alan Byrne is 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. He is also one of the growing number of traditional musicians who has moved to Skerries in recent years.

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.

Guitar & bouzouki player with Arcady in the early 1990's.

Guitar with Sean Keane (singer) band 1994- 1996.

Founding member of traditional band Providence 1998.

Siobhán Bhreathnach was born in Dublin and lives in Skerries. She initially learned the harp in school and discovered traditional music through the vibrant youth scene in south Dublin where so many talented musicians were based. She was recorded on a Gael Linn production (Bualadh Bos) and she played in groups with her brothers and friends and appeared on television and radio programmes of the time. She was a founder member of the all-women traditional music group Macalla. She toured and made two recordings with Macalla (Mná na hÉireann and Macalla, on the Gael Linn label) and has a solo recording of music from Celtic countries (The Celtic Harp, Ossian Publications) from which several of her arrangements have been published in an accompanying book. She also recorded a collection of songs for schools with singer Seosaimhin Ní Bheaglaoich and concertina player Mary MacNamara.
Siobhán studied concert harp at the Royal Irish Academy of Music where she was awarded a Teaching Diploma. She plays fiddle as well as harp and has a particular interest in the fiddle music of County Donegal.

Larry Egan comes from Parkbridge, rural Co. Wicklow and has been playing the Button Accordion since childhood! By the age of eighteen, he had won four All – Ireland titles. In 2003 ‘The Kitchen Recordings’ album was released on the ‘Clo Iar Chonnachta’ label to much acclaim and was recorded with Sean O’Driscoll, in Sean’s kitchen in Cork. As a member of various groups, and as a solo artist, Larry has toured and taught Irish music all over the world including countries as far away as New Zealand, North America, Scandinavia, Japan, and China.

Gradam Ceoil TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year 2024

Derek Hickey hails from Adare, County Limerick. Both his grandfathers played fiddle and his own musical career began at ten years of age when his uncle left an accordion in the family home. Derek progressed to dance tunes within weeks though he didn't begin lessons - under the tutelage of Donal de Barra - until he was 12.
Derek's professional career began three years later when he joined the Shannonside Ceili Band. Formed by the Liddy family the band was particularly popular in the north of the country. It also toured extensively in England and made regular trips throughout Europe. In 1991 Frankie Gavin asked Derek to join him for regular sessions in his then leased hotel in Kinvara, Co. Galway. One year later, at just eighteen years of age, Derek joined Arcady, Johnny 'Ringo' McDonagh's band. Frances Black, Brendan Larrisey and Patsy Broderick were also members of the band at that time and many other household names have played in the line-up, including Sharon Shannon, Cathal Hayden and Gerry O'Connor.
In 1995 Derek joined the legendary De Danann alongside Frankie Gavin. He toured with De Danann until 2003. He spent some time teaching as a button accordion tutor on the BA Irish Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy. Alongside teaching he returned to performing with De Danann and he continues to tour nationally and internationally.

Jacqui Martin is a fiddle player from North County Dublin. She began learning traditional Irish music at a young age, taking whistle classes locally before taking up the fiddle in her late teens. Jacqui has taught and played at many festivals around the world.
She plays regularly in the Cobblestone music pub in Dublin. She has hosted a Thursday night session for the past 20 years, previously alongside Sligo flute player, Deirdre Hurley, and more recently with Derek Hickey.

Maurice Egan is a button accordion player from Listowel in County Kerry. Inspired to play music through the many fleadhanna which took place in the town when growing up. Some of his earliest musical memories and influences are going to regular lessons with Anne McAuliffe and a week spent at scoil eigse in Listowel under the tutelage of the great Joe Burke. Maurice is a former senior all Ireland button accordion champion and has toured with various musicians and groups over the years. He now lives in North County Dublin.

Paddy Tutty was born in 1981 and comes from Dungarvan, in west Waterford. Paddy’s musical start in life was a little later than most to say the least, as he didn’t actually start playing until he was seventeen. Coming from a musical family, Paddy remembers his grandfather, the late Tommy Norris playing the fiddle when he was growing up, along with Traditional Irish music being played on the radio at home. This was certainly a massive inspiration to him from an early age, however Paddy was never pushed into the music and thankfully this seemed to make him work even harder when he finally did start.

Paddy remembers being inspired by a Danú concert that he attended in his hometown, Dungarvan, Co Waterford. He started playing the bodhrán soon after in sessions in Dungarvan and very quickly progressed on to the fiddle. Paddy now plays regularly in his hometown and further afield with various other musicians.

Paddy is self-taught on bodhran, fiddle, banjo and upright double bass.

Paddy is a founding member of the group Caladh Nua. With four acclaimed albums to-date, the group formed back in 2009 with their debut album 'Happy Days'. This was followed-up by 'Next Stop' (2011), 'Honest to Goodness' (2014) and 'Free and Easy' in 2016.

Caladh Nua have toured professionally for over ten years and have performed all over Europe, China, the US and India.

As well as having a musical family background, Paddy was also very fortunate that there was a high standard of carpentry skills going back through the generations of his family. For his Leaving Cert woodwork project he made his first fiddle which would ultimately steer him in a direction that was both difficult but very rewarding. He has made many violins since and has come a long way to a point where he now has his own successful violin making business and has an instrument making website, paddytuttyinstruments.com

Between Caladh Nua and with various other groups, Paddy has played in the US, UK Newfoundland China, Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Austria and New Zealand.

The band has been fortunate to share stages with great bands such as the Chieftains, Danu, Dervish and Beoga and many more. Paddy is delighted to be able to bring his music and the tradition to
 audiences worldwide.

Born in Bessbrook, Co.Armagh, Paul Bradley began playing the fiddle fifty years ago, aged seven. Receiving formative direction from his brothers  Joe, (concertina/fiddle player)  and Dominic, (fiddle/bodhran), he also recieved three lessons from Josephine Keegan which greatly helped to ground his playing.

Listening to the many great fiddlers who were recorded in the seventies and eighties(Potts, Peoples, Glackin, Keane, Burke et al) provided  substantial  material for Paul to study and sent him searching further into recordings from earlier periods and other regions, styles and traditions.

His playing draws on diverse regional and individual styles and the influence of uilleann pipe music also  forms part of his very individual sound.

His solo album (Outlet records,1998) received a five star review in the Irish Times and still receives regular airplay at home and abroad. He has collaborated on many other recordings and is a composer of traditional tunes.

Paul  has toured internationally as a professional musician since 1987 and he is also a highly regarded violin maker whose instruments are played in Irish Orchestras and by traditional musicians of the highest calibre.

Paul’s violin studio is in Armagh. He teaches fiddle with Armagh Piper’s Club and has been a fiddle tutor at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy for twenty five years.

His website is: www.facebook.com/paulbradleyviolinmaker

From Monaghan originally, but now resident in Swords, Seán is member of the award-winning Irish traditional group Téada and has performed frequently throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. With the group he has also recorded six albums, the most recent of which Coiscéim Coiligh (2022) was released on the Gael Linn label. He is the recipient of a TG4 Gradam Ceoil award (2016) for his ‘Our Dear Dark Mountain With The Sky Over It' project, which focused on the musical heritage of the Sliabh Beagh region of north Monaghan/east Fermanagh. At present, he works at the newly established Irish Institute of Music & Song, Balbriggan as Head of Programme Development/Lecturer in Irish Traditional Music.

Ciarán Somers is an Irish traditional musician specialising in the wooden flute, Tin whistles and the Uilleann pipes.  He lives in Muine Bheag, County Carlow in the rural south east of Ireland. He has been a member of a number of performing groups including ‘Bearu’ and the ‘Geantraí Players’.

He has recorded tracks on a number of albums including ‘Wooden Flute Obsession’, a compilation of Irish flute playing and on ‘Selected Recordings from the Willie Clancy Summer School’. 2009 saw the release of ‘Faoi Bhláth’ - a duet recording with virtuoso fiddle player, Dave Sheridan and accompanied and produced by Guitarist, Nicolas Quemener from Brittany, France. Ciarán is on the annual staff of the Willie Clancy Summer School in County Clare and is in regular demand as a visiting instructor at a plethora of summer schools and music festivals.

David Sheridan hails from the village of Tubber, Co.Offaly. He began playing the tin whistle in primary school and moved on to the fiddle when fellow Offalyman, Dan Cleary, began teaching this instrument in the local town of Moate. As a young player, he won provincial and national titles both as a solo musician and in duets, bands etc. He was successful in All-Ireland competitions such as Fleadhanna, Scór and Oireachtas.

David has toured Ireland, Britain and USA with Comhaltas groups and has since represented Ireland in festivals in Japan, China and Mozambique among countless European events. He has appeared on most of the traditional music programmes shown on RTE and TG4, from ‘The Mountain Lark’ (1986) to ‘Geantraí’(2023).

In 1986, David moved to Carlow, where he now resides. He is a fixture on the local traditional music scene, playing in sessions and performing on stage. He met many great musicians here in Carlow and Kilkenny and with these heroes has helped to put Carlow music on the map. He spends a lot of his time teaching Carlow youngsters to play and some years ago helped to form RíRá, a teenage traditional performing group. Students of his have gone on to win All-Ireland titles for themselves. He also runs the Carlow Fleadh Cheoil and he spearheaded two Leinster Fleadheanna in this small county. He, along with wife Michelle ran a successful folk club in Carlow for 10 years, bringing the best musicians and singers to the town. He has recorded some notable CDs over the years including ‘Faoi Bhláth’ with flautist, Ciarán Somers, ‘However Long the Day’ with piper, Brian Hughes and two
recordings with ‘The Raw Bar Collective’ alongside Conal O’Grada, Benny Mc Carthy, Colm Murphy and Nell Ní Chróinín.

Pádraig was born and raised in Inverin, situated in the Connemara Gaeltacht. He started learning the tin-whistle at a young age under the tutelage of Mary Bergin before picking up the guitar at 17 years of age. After spending a couple of years playing a variety of music, Pádraig decided to apply his guitar-playing skills to Irish traditional music. While completing the MA in Irish Music Performance at the University of Limerick, he learnt from some of the best accompanists in the tradition including Steve Cooney and John Blake. Pádraig was featured on the his first Irish traditional music recording in 2018 - 'Fear Inis Bearachain' with Johnny Óg Connolly, and has since been involved in various commercial recordings and television broadcasts. In 2022, Pádraig got the chance to represent Ireland for a month at the World EXPO in Dubai as a member of the National Concert Hall's EXPO Players group. He has a great interest in the music of his locality as well and has been involved in a number of archive projects with the Irish Traditional Music Archive in recent years. Pádraig regularly performs with some of the finest exponents of Irish Traditional Music at various concerts and festivals at home and abroad each year and is also in-demand as a guitar teacher.

Awarded with the prestigious Gradam Ceoil TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2021, Sorcha Costello is a traditional Irish fiddle player from Tulla Co. Clare and hails from a family emersed in traditional Irish music. From a young age, Sorcha has enjoyed performing nationally and internationally including tours of New Zealand, Australia and America already this year. She is also in high demand as a teacher of music, especially in her home area of East Clare because of her ability to transmit her unique style which has the trademark rhythm and swing qualities of generations of her family.

Released in June 2023, Sorcha Costello’s new album The Primrose Lass is a solo fiddle album which encompasses a unique variety of both old and new tunes. The style and flow of this album resembles Sorcha’s love of the old tradition, evidenced through the swing, rhythm and uncomplicated playing of tunes. Deeply rooted in the East Clare style, yet containing all her other musical influences from around the world, this album keeps the listener engaged throughout. Both accompanists on the album, John Blake (guitar + bouzouki) and Catherine McHugh (keyboard) weave their way around Sorcha’s fiddle playing to create a warm, comfortable atmosphere. This debut solo album has resulted in two RTE Radio 1 Folk award nominations for Sorcha, including ‘best folk instrumentalist’ and ‘’best emerging artist’ 2023.

Liam Flanagan is a fiddle player originally from Charleville, County Cork but now living near the town of Kilfinane, County Limerick. He grew up playing as part of Craobh Cronain CCE in Freemount, Co. Cork under the guidance of Con Herbert and Gary Shannon and now regularly performs with Derek Hickey, North Cregg, Danu, and many more, having toured across Europe and the USA. He has also featured on many TV and Radio programs such as Port, Hup, Geantrai, and Bosca Ceoil.

WINNERS OF THE 2024 RTÉ FOLK AWARDS FOR BEST EMERGING ARTIST

Born into a musical family, siblings Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta hail from the village of An Áird Mhóir in the Gaeltacht region of Connemara, County Galway.

They are noted for their sean nós singing (unaccompanied traditional Irish vocal performance in the Irish language) and their unique arrangements of both Irish and English language songs.

They take a particular interest in vocal arrangement and harmonization with their performances benefitting from the vocal tones that only families share.

Their Late Late Show performance in 2022 of the soulful lament Anach Cuain captured the mood of the nation and went viral around the world.

Séamus and Caoimhe are both accomplished multi instrumentalists, Irish dancers and All Ireland winning performers who keep the Irish language and their heritage at the heart of all their musical endeavors.

In 2023 they released their debut EP simply titled Séamus & Caoimhe. It is available to download on all digital platforms and was produced by Brian Whelan and Riverdance composer Bill Whelan and recorded at their studio at The Fort, Roundstone, Connemara.

Caoimhe is currently studying a BA in Irish Music at the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick. Séamus is studying a BA in Applied Languages which includes Irish, also at UL.

Alan Wallace is a guitar player living in Kinvara Co Galway.  His musical tastes cover a broad range, but he is mainly involved in the traditional music scene in Galway and Clare.

Katie Theasby, a phenominal voice and an amazing whistle player, a lady not to be missed!

Fiddle

A highly respected fiddle-player based in Co. Meath, John has been described as “a supreme traditional musician” in recognition of his sensitive and rhythmical interpretation of traditional tunes. John has collaborated with many of Ireland’s leading musicians, and has been a member of a number of groups including with Bakerswell, Kelp and Providence, and is currently a member of the ‘Gatehouse’. A tutor at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, he has toured extensively in Europe, New Zealand and the USA and has a number of CD recordings to his name.

Guitar and Concertina

Dubliner Jacinta McEvoy plays concertina and guitar. Much sought after as an accompanist, she is a frequent performer on radio and has recorded with a number of notable musicians including the late Chris Droney. In 2009 she published ‘Dancin Time’ a folk and Irish dance pack for schools. She has appeared at a number of festivals with the all-female group ‘Macalla’ and is currently a member of the group ‘Gatehouse’ with whom she has performed throughout Europe and Ireland.

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.

Noreen O'Donoghue A.R.I.A.M. from Dublin is a Harpist and Pianist. She has been a member of many traditional bands including Dal gCais, Oisin, Fisherstreet and Bakerswell. She has toured Europe extensively with these bands and as a solo musician. She has also toured the USA with the late Sean Potts's band Bakerswell. Noreen is in high demand as a session musician and has recorded in this capacity on approximately 40 mainly traditional albums before releasing her solo Harp album “Strung Out”. Some of her recordings as a session musician apart from numerous traditional,albums include Midge Ure, Sinead O'Connor and Phil Coulter. She has made many appearances on television both home and abroad.

Noreen is the holder of an A.R.I.A.M. Teachers diploma in Concert harp. She teaches traditional music at many festivals here such as the Willie Clancy Week, Corofin Tradfest and the Ennis Tradfest and currently teaches harp in Ballyfermot College of Further Education.

Noreen has premiered on Colm O'Foghlu's works such as Greannta with Ken Edge and Lynn Hilary, Aifreann na nAingeal and Oratorio na Nollaig.

Emer Ní Scolaí is a 19 year old harpist from Dublin. Her harping roots stem from age 7, when she first heard the harp at a concert and was immediately enthralled by its unique sound and presence. She has been playing classical and traditional harp ever since her my passion for Irish music was instilled in her by her late grandfather, the well-known Clare singer and flute-player Séamus Mac Mathúna. She has had the pleasure over the years of having many opportunites to cultivate her love for harping, from attending music schools like the Willie Clancy summer school and the Cairde na Cruite harp festival, as well getting to perform both solo and alongside her two sisters in their exciting up-and-coming band ‘Sult’. Her favourite peformances include the 2019 spot on the Body & Soul stage at Electric Picnic, opening for Moya Brennan and Clannad at the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre and giving tribute to the great piper Liam O Floinn in the National concert hall. She attends the Fleadh Cheoil every year and is the recipient of 7 All-Ireland titles from the years in Sligo, Ennis and Drogheda.

The recently launched debut album from David Sanders, titled “Chance Encounters, Last Minute Notions” will be showcased here at Skerries Trad Festival. David is joined on this fine release by Alan Wallace, Katie Theasby, Mary Liddy and many more. This album includes a collection of the music and musical influences David has experienced through his playing to date. David, a native of Kilnaboy in Co Clare, is no stranger to the solid rhythm and style of North Clare music. Included are numerous new compositions, from waltzes to jigs, reels and a lovely song titled Dreaming of Home. Come and join David and friends at this launch in Glor. You are promised a great performance, where David will be joined by Alan Wallce on Guitar, and the well known national treasure Katie Theasby.

James O Mahony is a native of Skerries with roots in the Sliabh Luachra area of the Kingdom. Influenced by Planxty, Bothy band and Chieftains of the early 70s James developed a love for all aspects of traditional Irish music.
James has played mandolin and banjo throughout Fingal over the past 40 yrs. From playing with the older generation of local musicians like Jimmy Gilsenan, Packie Seavers and Noel Mcgarry to playing at countless festivals throughout the country James has a wide repertoire of tunes.

James has been involved in teaching and promoting traditional music in local primary schools in the area.

Originally from Belfast, Colm McGonigle was first taught to play traditional Irish music on the concertina by his father. He learned to play piano as a child and later the Irish harp. While studying and working in Cambridge, U.K. he played annually at the Cambridge Folk Festival and performed across London including weekly sessions at the Auld Triangle in Finsbury Park, the Club at the Ivy in the West End and the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. Colm was harp tutor for the London Irish Music School & Feith an Cheoil School of Music and taught workshops at The Return to Camden Town Festival, The Trip to Birmingham Trad Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow & Festival Interceltique de Lorient. Upon completing his doctoral studies in 2016, Colm moved to Dublin and now enjoys teaching and performing throughout Ireland and this is his second visit to the Skerries Traditional Music Weekend.

Aisling Lyons is an accomplished Irish harpist & concertina player renowned for her soul-stirring compositions and versatility. Songlines Magazine hails her as "..the finest young Irish harpist at work today," while Hot Press Magazine (2022) recognizes her as "one of traditional music’s finest musicians." With a collection of prestigious awards, Aisling continues to captivate audiences blending traditional Irish music with contemporary influences. Aisling's debut album (2021), 'Aistear,' received widespread acclaim, described as 'an exceptional CD' by the Living Tradition, 'a standout record, flawless' according to Hot Press, and labeled 'excellent' by Folk Radio UK. Currently working on her second harp album, Aisling is involved in various collaborations and performances around the country and overseas.

Holder of 8 All-Ireland titles, Aisling has showcased her musical prowess on many global stages, enchanting audiences worldwide. In 2018, she graduated with First Class Honours in Irish Music from the University of Limerick and later earned a Professional Master of Education in 2021. A dedicated educator, Aisling has imparted her expertise as a harp tutor at the Irish World Academy, Limerick, University College Cork & various schools around the globe.

Her contributions have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her nominations in the 'Best Folk Instrumentalist' and 'Best Emerging Artist' categories at the 2022 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards. Aisling's musical journey includes collaborations with renowned artists such as visual artist Aideen Barry, rappers Hazey Haze, DJ Dáithí, Tolü Makay, poet Moya Cannon, storyteller Aindrias De Staic, Riit, film-composer Stephen Shannon, and Elle Márjá Eira.

Ciara Ní Bhriain started learning violin with Young European Strings at age three. At age 12, she began studying viola at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Chatham Row. She later pursued her studies on viola with David O’Doherty in Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), where she was also studying Irish and concert harp with the wonderful Denise Kelly.

Coming from a musical family, Ciara has had the opportunity to perform internationally with her dad Mick, and with her siblings and has toured with artists including Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, Birkin Tree, Carlos Nunez, and Frankie Gavin and the Provenance. She spent two years as resident performer with her band TradGad at Raglan Road, in Disneyland Florida. More recently, Ciara performed as soloist with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, performing The Princess Grace Suite, composed by Frankie Gavin.
A little closer to home, Ciara completed a tour of Ireland in 2022 with Johnny Óg Connolly, performing his composition, An Cosán Draíochta. Solo performances by Ciara include a recent appearance at Powers Golden Hours in Whelans, Ardán at The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, a series curated by Louise Mulcahy highlighting emerging female traditional musicians and performed as soloist with the Irish Memory Orchestra at the Jeonju International Music Festival in South Korea.

Ciara is currently studying Audio Production and Music Project Management at Dublin’s Sound Training College and Dublin Business School. She continues to teach both fiddle and harp, including at DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus. Ciara can be heard regularly on Irish radio and television.

Fergal McArdle is an up-and-coming concertina player from Dundalk, Co. Louth. Under the tuition of Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh, Fergal has developed a unique and powerfully energetic style of playing that is steeped in tradition, with innovative and contemporary influences.

Fergal began competing in the Fleadh Cheoil competitions at all levels, both as a solo artist and as part of Céilí Bands and Grúpa Cheoil, quickly standing out as one of the finest young concertina players of his generation.

Fergal has contributed to numerous radio and television recordings over the years, including Kieran Hanrahan’s Céilí House on RTÉ Radio 1, Folk Club with Marty Cullen and Lynette Fay on BBC Radio Ulster and an appearance on TG4 as part of Fleadh TV during Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann 2018 in Drogheda. He has also contributed to archival recordings for Comhaltas Live.

Fergal has recorded in the studio for traditional Irish musicians, such as Kevin Meehan and for artists outside the genre, including Dark Stranger on his album, “Too Beautiful, Too Young”, released in 2020.

Fergal has performed to audiences across Ireland and abroad, including festivals such as Scoil Gheimhridh Goath Dobhair in Co. Donegal and the Seán McAloon Festival in Roslea, Co. Fermanagh, alongside musicians such as Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bríd Harper. He has performed in concert to audiences in Senlis, France, Amsterdam, Netherlands and Němčice nad Hanou, Czechia, where he represented Ireland at the Svátek Hudby international music festival.

Fergal has taught concertina in the Clasac Comhaltas Regional Centre for CCÉ Cluain Tarbh, Co. Dublin, on behalf of CCÉ Rinn Mhic Ghiolla Rua, Co. Down, at the Phil Murphy Weekend in Co. Wexford as well as to private students. Fergal is often sought after as a teacher for his unique style and creative approach to ornamentation and arrangement.

Fergal continues to innovate as an artist, pushing the concertina into unexplored territory whilst displaying the immense capabilities of his instrument.

Dónal is a singer from Co. Down and performs in folk trio TRÚ.

Along with Sara Dennedy and Sarah May Rogers, he co-founded Skerries Folk Club in 2022.

Dónal is also co-founder of the Singing Sessions at the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, and the Irish Institute of Music & Song in Balbriggan.