2025 Performers

For four decades, Altan has been to the forefront of traditional Irish music, blending the raw energy of their native Donegal-fiddle style with a rare, melodic sensibility. Altan has always been regarded as tradition bearers, bringing their native Donegal music to a wider public and keeping true to their roots, while exploring modern arrangements and textures to entice new followers.

Audiences from Ireland to Japan to Australia to Europe have embraced their heartwarming, dynamic live performances and their exquisitely produced, award-winning recordings. Over a dozen releases to date, ranging from the most touching old Irish songs to hard-hitting reels and jigs.

Adding to their long list of awards and honors, fiddler, singer and founding member Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh was the recipient of the Gradam Ceoil/Traditional Musician of the Year in 2017.

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.

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.

Bríd is an Irish traditional fiddle player from Castlefinn, Co. Donegal and now living near Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. Encouraged by her parents she grew up learning and playing Irish traditional music with her sisters in the Finn Valley area. With music on both sides of the family she is carrying on the tradition of fiddle playing. She won numerous under-age All Ireland titles and other prestigious fiddle awards including the Senior All Ireland, Oireachtas na Gaeilge and Fiddler of Dooney.

Bríd an MA graduate of the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance at University of Limerick has toured extensively and has performed with many great musicians including Dermot Byrne Steve Cooney Donogh Hennessy Danny O'Mahony Arty McGlynn Harry Bradley Tony O'Connell and Cyril O'Donoghue. She has been hailed as one of the leading exponents of traditional fiddle playing of our time. Bríd is highly respected as a teacher and has tutored at many Summer Schools and Workshops throughout Ireland and in France, Holland and the USA. Her first solo CD was released in 2015 and has enjoyed much success to date.

Bríd teaches fiddle at all levels and has extensive experience over many years both in class and one-on-one scenarios.

Past teaching venues include:
*Fiddle Week Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal * Scoil Éigse (CCE) *Irish Arts Week, Catskills, USA *Fiddlers Farm, Niedorp, Holland *Joe Mooney Summer School, Drumshambo, Co Leitrim  *Café Concert, Toucouleur, Brittany, France

MacDara Ó Raghallaigh is the youngest of a musical family of Rathmolyon, Co. Meath and he was reared on music. Their home on the family farm was one filled with traditional music and song, and Irish was the everyday spoken tongue. MacDara Ó Raghallaigh fiddle playing is often described os '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 bowhand.

Tom Doorley was born in Dublin in the early 1970’s and has been playing for many years in both Classical and Traditional music circles, in Ireland and abroad. In his younger years he received lessons from Vincent Broderick, Micheál Ó hAlmhain, Cormac Breathnach, the late Seamus MacMathuna and is heavily inspired by the music of Matt Molloy. After winning the All-Ireland flute competition he continued on with his studies in classical flute qualifying with an honours degree in performance in the Dublin Institute of Technology (TUD) and Trinity College Dublin. Tom further explored the development of his flute playing while studying with acclaimed flautists such as Julius Baker, James Galway and Marzio Conti in the Boccherini Conservatoire in Lucca, Italy. From his studies Tom has been developing a mix of methods in expressive tone, technique and interpretation in helping students develop their musical skills and musicianship.

After his studies he joined with the internationally acclaimed Irish traditional band Danú and performed professionally with them for fourteen years. He has toured the world performing Irish music and promoting Irish culture. As a recording artist he has recorded multiple albums and a dvd with Danú, Julie Fowlis ,and even featured on Disneys’ movie soundtrack “Brave”. He also had the pleasure in performing and recording with Irish singing legend Liam Clancy.

Tom currently lectures and teaches on the Irish traditional music course in Technological University Dublin (TUD). He currently holds the position as musical director of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland (NFOI) where is composing new repertoire and developing exciting new ideas for this wonderful and vibrant orchestra. Tom recognises the importance of imparting his knowledge of music and sharing his experiences with students in helping them develop their musicianship and instrumental skills so as they can enjoy the richness and excitement of Irish traditional music.

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.

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. Recent performances include the Music Generation Laois Tionól, Céilí House to promote Lá na Cruite 2024 and Ceol Mharlaí Orchestra Concert at Féile Nasc 2025. This is his third visit to the Skerries Traditional Music Weekend.

Brian Fitzgerald hails from Bulgaden, near Kilmallock in Co Limerick.

He has toured with various Irish traditional music groups in Ireland, UK, Australia & North America , Australia & Asia.

He recorded his first album with Oisin Mac Diarmada (fiddle) & Michael Rooney (harp) in 2000. Brian was also a guest artist on James Keane's solo album( Sweeter as the years go by) along with the group Turas in 1999.

Brian's first solo album 'Turning Hay with a Crowbar' was released in 2023.There are also recordings of Brian playing with his wife, Lorna Fitzgerald (button accordion), on Seize The Moment in 2005 & The Teach Ceoil Concerts in 2011.

Brian has tutored at master classes at Scoil Eigse. Willie Clancy Summer School & in the University of Limerick as well as many workshops throughout Ireland.

He also works as tutor & assessor in the training of Irish music teachers on Comhaltas' TTCT courses.Brian has recently been added to the list of examiners for the SCT exams.

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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Paul Bradley is a violin maker and fiddle player based in Armagh City.
His solo album Atlantic Roar (1997) received wide acclaim. Paul is a tutor at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy and with the Armagh Pipers Club.
His fiddles are played by Sinéad McKenna, Andrew Caden, Declan Folan and many other great traditional and classical players.

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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.

Uilleann piper Néillidh Ó Maolagáin’s music is embedded in a great tradition. He is a son of acclaimed Leitrim fiddle-player and piper Tom Mulligan and was born in Dublin. He is a piper for whom playing music is a lifelong preoccupation and who plays with warmth and emotion.

He has developed and cultivated his own style of piping, which is grounded in the styles of the old piping masters. He is a great admirer of Irish sean-nós singing and this can be clearly heard in his emotive interpretation of these great songs.

Néillidh has released three solo albums to date. Along with teaching and guesting on other albums, he has performed at many festivals around the world. He has collaborated with conductor Robert Houlihan and played with Orchestras in Serbia, Hungary, and Romania. More recently, Néillidh has performed at home and abroad with renowned Leitrim poet and playright, Vincent Woods.

His two sons, Fiachra and Oisín, are both pipers and fiddle-players and his two daughters, Caoimhe and Éabha, play fiddle, harp, concertina and are both renowned sean-nós dancers.

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John Kelly Jnr - Artist & Musician

John Kelly Jnr, based in Dublin, has dedicated his life to two profound passions: painting and traditional Irish music. A gifted artist, John has exhibited his oil paintings in Clare, Cork, and Dublin, captivating audiences with his striking landscapes, evocative portraits, and modern abstract works. His creative journey is deeply rooted in the rich heritage of Ireland, drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of Clare and the vibrant cultural life of Dublin. Each piece reflects a profound connection to the world around him and a commitment to artistic exploration.

In addition to his work as a painter, John is a celebrated musician from a family renowned for their contributions to traditional Irish music. His father, the legendary fiddle and concertina player John Kelly from West Clare, was a towering figure in Irish music, and his brother, James Kelly, is one of Ireland’s most accomplished fiddle players. John himself has carried on this remarkable legacy, performing with groups such as Baker’s Well and Kelp, as well as the Castle Céilí Band and Ceoltóirí Chualann.

For over 40 years, John has been the director of the fiddle school at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy (SSWC), an institution deeply intertwined with his family’s musical heritage. Alongside his brother and children, who are also teachers at SSWC, John has played a vital role in preserving and passing on the traditions of Irish music. He continues to perform regularly in sessions across Dublin and Clare, enchanting audiences with his skill and passion.

John's music has taken him on tours throughout Europe and Africa, showcasing the depth and beauty of Irish culture on a global stage. These experiences, along with his deep familial ties to Irish music, inform his art, where music and painting converge in a shared celebration of rhythm, colour, and life.

John lives in Dublin with his wife Mary, a native of Kilfenora, Co. Clare, whose landscape and spirit often inspire his work. His artistry, both on canvas and in music, reflects a lifelong dedication to the cultural richness of Ireland and the power of creative expression.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

Bodhrán player Conor Lyons (Bodhrán & Bouzouki) began playing traditional Irish music from an early age, learning his craft from his family and neighbours. Throughout his career, he has featured on many different stages and shows and is a member of the critically acclaimed Irish traditional group ’The Bonny Men’.
His talents have brought him across the globe to perform his music, most notably at the prestigious venue of Carnegie Hall in New York. He has also toured extensively throughout Europe with various other high-ranking musicians and is a regular performer at venues and theatres across Ireland.
From a young age, competitions and performances were commonplace for Conor, and he is the only bodhrán player to claim the title of 'World Champion' twice.
He also plays the Bouzouki, a Greek instrument that has come to the fore in Traditional Music for which he is a great exponent of it. Featuring on many group and solo recordings of Irish musicians, Conor’s skills on both the Bodhrán and Bouzouki have come to be well regarded among Irish musicians and he is a highly sought after recording musician.