2026 Performers

Carlos Sweeney McCartin is a no nonsense trio of Fiddle, Flute and Guitar. Their music is uncompromising in its direct reflection of traditional Irish music as played in sessions in the north west of Ireland today. Heavily influenced by the likes of Matt Molloy, Cathal Hayden, Planxty, The Bothy Band, Dervish and Lúnasa, they are energetic and rambunctious, unbridled and unapologetic.

Their debut eponymous album was an instant hit with critics and music lovers alike. Even before it’s official release, their second album, The One After It, became the best-selling Traditional / Folk album worldwide on Bandcamp.

We are delighted to welcome the Kilfenora Céilí Band to our festival weekend.

After 113 years in the business the world-renowned Kilfenora Céilí Band are seen by many aficionados as the quintessential Irish céilí band. Their core repertoire of dance music, punctuated with an incomparable lift and rhythm, defines an unbroken tradition that dates from the beginning of the twentieth century. Despite this link with the past, their recent recordings and concert performances point to a broadening of the perceived boundaries of their genre. Collaborations with a diverse range of song and dance artists, experimentation with repertoire outside of the dance domain and complex harmonic arrangements speak to an ensemble who are pioneering new and exciting performance contexts for the céilí band genre.

While acknowledging and incorporating the past, the Kilfenora thrives on creativity and innovation.
www.kilfenoraceiliband.com

A traditional band with a truly worldwide reach, Téada has appeared as a frequent headliner at major music festivals throughout Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. Highlights include a 30,000-capacity stadium concert in Brittany, along with performances at Rainforest World Music Festival & Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia, Edmonton Folk Festival in Canada, Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe and World Music Festival Taiwan. In 2014 the band performed to 40,000 people during an extensive 7-week tour of Japan / Taiwan.

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.

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.

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. Respected as a performer, teacher and composer, Sorcha has toured worldwide for over ten years and is in high demand on the Irish music festival circuit. Released in 2023, Sorcha’s solo fiddle album The Primrose Lass achieved great critical acclaim, receiving two RTE Radio 1 Folk award nominations for ‘best folk instrumentalist’ and ‘’best emerging artist’. The style and flow of this album reflect Sorcha’s love of the tradition, evidenced through the swing, rhythm and uncomplicated playing of tunes. Sorcha’s own compositions on this album demonstrate her ability to combine elements of the old style with the current stylistic features of a developing tradition.

1990 saw the release of his first solo album "Time To Time" on the Mulligan label.This album received rave reviews and is considered a classic benchmark for banjo in Irish music with many of the tracks used for TV programmes . The track,"Funk the Cajun Blues " became a popular radio single and also featured on the big selling "Trad at Heart"Irish compilation music album in 1994.

Gerry joined the band Four Men and a Dog in 1992 ,the first Irish band to win UK Folk Roots album of the year. Over 12 years they did four albums and became one of the most popular Irish Trad groups on the touring circuit worldwide. Highlights were performing at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996 recording and touring with rock and roll legends "The Band ".

Between tours Gerry did countless recording sessions in Dublin for many artists , including Christy Moore, Bonnie Tyler, Albert Lee and the "Lord of the Dance "soundtrack.
He joined The Sharon Shannon big band in 2008 recording two CDs and two DVDs.The song "The Galway Girl"became the most downloaded song in Irish music.
He also recorded and toured with Sharon Corr and has also played on The Corr’s album "White Light" .

In 2011 he joined rock guitar superstar Joe Bonamassa Acoustic Band recording two U.S. Billboard No1 albums and DVDs "Live in Vienna Opera House" and "Live at The Albert Hall". Multiple tours followed including a world tour in 2014.

In 2012, following the death of his friend, banjo legend Barney McKenna, Gerry guested with The Dubliners on their 50 years anniversary tour. That same year The Dublin Legends were born and continue to carry on the legacy and spirit of The Dubliners.

Gerry continues to tour with Sharon Shannon, The Dublin Legends plus Live Solo and Studio work for Film and TV.

Sara Dennedy & Dónal Kearney are co-founders of Skerries Folk Club and host a monthly singing session on the last Sunday of the month. Sara is an All-Ireland prizewinner at Féis Ceoil (amhránaíocht) and Dónal is frontman of critically-acclaimed folk trio, TRÚ. They are former soloists with ANÚNA.

More information coming soon...

More information coming soon...

The Irish Institute of Music and Song’s teenage traditional ensemble, ‘GLÉAS’, is for dedicated young traditional musicians to learn, play and enjoy music and friendship together. Working under the direction of leading traditional musicians Carol Keane and Niall Preston, the GLÉAS ensemble presents teenage traditional musicians from North County Dublin with exciting performance opportunities.

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

More information coming soon...

Fiddle

Dylan comes from a rich musical heritage. He is heavily influenced by the music of his home county, Roscommon. He plays and teaches regularly at workshops and festivals around Ireland and abroad. Dylan has performed with such groups as Garadice, Gatehouse and singer Cormac Looby in recent years. In 2019 he was crowned senior all-Ireland fiddle champion.

Catherine McEvoy is recognised as one of the most respected musicians of her generation, having joined a prestigious list of musicians on being awarded TG4 Gradam Cheoil “Musician of the Year” in 2019.

Originally from Birmingham, both her parents came from Co. Roscommon, a County well known for flute playing. Catherine was a member of the Birmingham Ceili Band in the early 70’s and also the ground breaking first female group Macalla, who recorded 2 albums on the Gael –Linn label in the early 80’s. She was also a member of the three in a row All Ireland winning Tain Ceili Band.

Catherine has a number of albums to her credit to include “Comb your hair and curl it” with fellow musicians Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh (Concertina), Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (fiddle) which received critical acclaim. Catherine also recorded two albums with the legendary Piano Player Felix Dolan, “Music in the Sligo Roscommon Style” (CIC) 1993 and a duet album “ The Kilmore Fancy” with her brother John McEvoy fiddle player. “The Home Ruler” 2008, Catherine’s second solo CD featured a number of well known accompanists such as Steve Cooney (Guitar), Geraldine Cotter (Piano), Paddy McEvoy (piano).

Catherine’s latest solo release after a gap of 18 yrs was released in July 2025. “Down the Crushen Road” has been described as “Flute playing at its very best” by Mick O’Connor the legendary flute player and collector of music, and by the legend Patsy Hanly as being “bright, happy and uplifting, and unmistakably recognisable” as Catherine. Mick Connor from Dublin also comments that “Catherine is a phenomenal flute player who emerged from a male dominated environment and has become a role model for young women to aspire to.” Catherine has appeared on television and radio stations including RTE, TG4 and BBC. She has taught and toured extensively throughout her musical life.

More information coming soon...

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.

Vincent Doherty is a singer and flute player originally from Derry City, he has lived in Dublin since the late 70's. He first performed at the old Tradition Club in Slattery's of Capel Street in 1979. Since then he has appeared regularly at various singing events across Ireland and beyond. An exponent of "the northern style" he was greatly influenced by the singing of fellow Derryman Kevin Mitchell and Tyrone's Geordie Hanna. He regularly plays music in Dublin's Cobblestone Pub where he also taught Set-Dancing for many years. On the release of his album "The High Walls of Derry" Damien Dempsey wrote, "Vincent's voice lilts, flows, and weaves, leading you on a wonderful journey, a magic album.

Guitar

John comes from County Leitrim. Starting out as a fiddle player, his interest in accompaniment brought him to the guitar. He is a member of Garadice. He plays and records regularly with artists including Dónal Lunny, Frankie Gavin, Dermot Byrne, and Sharon Shannon, as well as bands including Dervish, Lunasa and De Dannan.

N.E.A.R.T is a vibrant new Irish traditional music band from North County Dublin and Meath, comprising of six talented musicians: Ruadhan Collier O’Brien, Niamh Landale, Ciannait Lawlor, Cathal Mac Conchra, Aoibheann Nic Conchra and Edith Lawlor. The group began as a school project with Coláiste Ghlór na Mara in Balbriggan .

Despite their young age, the musicians of N.E.A.R.T. have already gained recognition for their skill, passion, and dedication to Irish traditional music. Whether playing at local sessions, festivals, or special events, they captivate audiences with their lively sets and deep connection to the music.

United by a genuine love for Irish traditional music and culture, and the Irish language, the group brings fresh energy to the tradition while staying true to its roots.

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.

Mary Bergin is an Irish Traditional musician who is widely acknowledged as one of the great masters of the tin whistle.

Mary is one of the iconic performers in our time and a musician of such startling virtuosity that one could claim she almost single handedly launched the humble Irish tin whistle as a first-tier instrument onto the stage of modern day traditional Irish music.

Her two virtuosic recordings of the solo tin whistle, Feadóga Stáin (1979) and Feadóga Stáin 2 (1993), have been critically cited as "outstanding and unequalled".

In 2000 Mary was awarded the prestigious TG4 Gradam Ceoil ‘Traditional Musician of the Year' Award. She was the first female traditional Irish musician to receive this award and one of only four women ever to have received this award.

In 2022 Mary received an Honorary Doctorate from UCD for her contribution to the Arts.

Between 2013 and 20023 Mary distilled a lifetime of experience of teaching into her 3 volume Tutorial for learning the Tin Whistle. This Tutorial consisting of 3 books with 8 CDs is a course of step- by-step sequential lessons covering all techniques and how to incorporate them into the tunes.

She has toured extensively in Europe, America and in Australia playing in concerts and festivals, and giving workshops and seminars. She has also given masterclasses in many Universities around the world.

Mary has taught hundreds of students, in Ireland, across Europe, and in the United States, to play the whistle.

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.

Caoimhín Ó Fearghail was born in 1989 and comes from An Rinn in the Waterford Gaeltacht. He started to learn the tin-whistle at the age of eight, taking lessons from Bobby Gardiner. He quickly progressed to the uilleann pipes, under the tutelage of David Power. He is self-taught on flute and guitar inspired by such diverse flute players as Matt Molloy, Mike Rafferty and Tom Doorley. Some of his strongest piping influences include the old greats such as Séamus Ennis, Willie Clancy, Leo Rowsome, Tommy Reck and Patsy Touhey. He cannot deny the big influence that Liam O’Flynn, Mick O’Brien and Waterford pipers Tommy Kearney, Jimmy O’Brien-Moran, Tommy Keane and Donnchadh Gough have had on him, and is very much influenced by the many other great musicians and singers of his home area in Co. Waterford.

In 2006, as part of his school transition year project, he released an album entitled ‘Giorraíonn Beirt Bóthar’, with a group of friends, local musicians and singers. It featured guest appearances from well-known local artists including Liam Clancy, Áine Uí Cheallaigh, Donnchadh Gough and Ciarán Ó Gealbháin.

Since then, he has featured on a number of albums, as accompanist quite often, including on Caitlín Nic Gabhann’s album ‘Caitlín’, and Edel Fox and Neill Byrne’s ‘The Sunny Banks’. In 2013, he also recorded an album ‘Lá ag Ól Uisce’ with his brother Seán and Tomás Ó Gealbháin, and is featured playing pipes solo on ‘The Rolling Wave’, a compilation album issued by NPU.

Caoimhín was the 2012 recipient of the TG4 Young Musician of the Year award (Gradam Ceoil TG4).

In September 2013, he featured on a Music Network tour with Noel Hill and Liam O’Connor called ‘Bellows, Bridge & Bow’. In 2014, he joined the group Caladh Nua as guitar player with additional flute and has toured extensively with them, and has performed on various instruments with other well-known groups as well, such as Danú, Piper’s Union, and Skipper’s Alley. In 2018, Caoimhín recorded an album of flute and fiddle music with fiddler Paddy Tutty from nearby Dungarvan, and in 2020, NPU (Na Píobairí Uilleann) released a solo piping album of his music as part of their ‘Ace & Deuce of Piping’ series.

A frequent teacher and performer, he has taught pipes and performed at many piping Tionóil agus other piping events in Ireland such as Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, the William Kennedy Piping Festival in Armagh, and also at the Northeast Tionól in the US. He has also toured abroad playing with groups such as Caladh Nua and Danú all over the US, the UK, Europe, Newfoundland and New Zealand.

Caoimhín is a graduate of UCC with an MA in Irish and has a keen interest in the songs of the Déise and their airs. He plays a concert pitch set of pipes made by Alain Froment for him.

He was recently chosen as Best Folk Instrumentalist at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards for 2021.

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.

Flute

Cein is from Killeshandra County Cavan, a small town in west Cavan with a strong reputation for traditional music. Cein has taught and performed music across Europe, America and the UK. In 2015 he was crowned senior all-Ireland Flute Champion.

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.

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.

John Wynne is one of the most prominent flute players on the scene today. He is steeped and immersed in the North Connaught flute playing tradition. From a young age John has had success in All Ireland competitions. He was a member of the successful group ‘Providence’ touring and recording two albums with them, self-titled “Providence”(2000) and “A fig for a kiss”(2001). John released a critically acclaimed first solo CD “With every breath” in 2000. In 2009 he released his second solo recording “Ar nos na gaoithe – like the wind”. The album received favourable reviews from The Irish Times and Irish Music Magazine among others:

“Here is a master musician playing for pure pleasure and it’s a pleasure to hear him” (Irish Music Magazine)

“The effervescence of his rhythmical style is a better mood enhancer than any chemical concoction” (The Irish Times)

In 2007, John released the much acclaimed ”Pride of the West”, a fiddle/flute album with John McEvoy, and the duet has been busy touring and gigging on the scene since. “Pride of the West” was voted in the top ten releases of 2007 by esteemed US reviewer Earle Hitchner.

John is also busy teaching whistle and flute during the year in Roscommon, and is sought after during the year at workshops and Winter/Summer schools in Ireland and beyond. He is a member of the teaching staff at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy since 1998,and at The Joe Mooney Summer School, Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim since 2003 among others. John is a member of Roscommon trad arts forum which has two CDs “The flute players of Roscommon, 1 and 2” and he has been involved in other projects for the forum.

John currently plays and records with a 4-piece Roscommon-based trad group “Gatehouse”.

Finally, John has great experience in organising concerts and festivals such as “Feile Frank McGann” and “The Reel thing” series of trad concerts in conjunction with Roscommon Arts Centre.

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.

More information coming soon...

Paudie O Connor is an accordion player from County Kerry. His music is heavily influenced by the the Sliabh Luachra musical tradition of East Kerry and North Cork. In 2014 with Aoife Ni chaoimh he released the highly acclaimed album Didn’t She Dance and Dance. Paudie learned the craft of playing for set dancers from the fames Johnny O’Leary playing for set dancers in the famed Dan O Connell’s pub in Knocknagree. In 2005 he released the critically acclaimed solo album Different State and in 2007 released Wind and Reeds with Jim Murray and piper John O Brien.

More information coming soon...

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.

More information coming soon...

More information coming soon...

More information coming soon...

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.

Alannah Thornburgh is an award-winning instrumentalist and composer from the wild west of Ireland with a focus on traditional Irish harp. Alannah’s music explores her family heritage, reimagining ancient airs and tunes from the Irish harping, American Appalachian and jazz traditions. This cross-genre interaction and juxtaposition of old melodies with contemporary harmonies and technique is interwoven throughout her music, described as ‘unforced, fluid and utterly at home in her own sound’ (The Irish Times).

Alannah’s debut solo single ‘The Front’, a homage to the late minimalist composer Conor Walsh, was premiered on Seattle’s KEXP to great critical acclaim. She was nominated for two awards at the 2022 and 2021 RTE Folk Awards - Best Emerging Artist and Best Folk Instrumentalist. Alannah featured on an RTÉ 1 Documentary ‘A Note for Nature’ in collaboration with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Alannah is also a recipient of the Arts Council’s Next Generation Award 21/22. She is a founding member of Alfi, a trio who combine traditional Irish and Appalachian music and song, winners of the 2020 US Embassy Creative Minds Award. Alannah will release both her debut solo album and an album with Alfi in 2023. Alannah has recorded, performed and collaborated with Anna Mieke, Brían Mac Gloinn (Ye Vagabonds), Lemoncello, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Brigid Mae Power, David Keenan, Tristan Scroggins, Conor Caldwell, Gareth Quinn Redmond and Varo.

More information coming soon...

More information coming soon...

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.

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.

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.

Éamonn Galldubh has toured and recorded with artists including Clannad, Moya Brennan, Jiggy, Cara Dillon, Riverdance, Damien Dempsey, Ragús, Afro Celt Sound System, Niamh Ní Charra, Celtic Woman, Hazel O Connor, Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Kila, Tarab, Dúlra, Druid Theatre and the RTE Concert Orchestra. Éamonn has completed a PhD exploring the use of the uilleann pipes in baroque music. As a composer his work has been performed and recorded by artists including Moya Brennan and Jiggy. More details can be found at the website www.galldubh.com

More information coming soon...

Pádraig and Róisín McEneany are among the most popular and sought-after Set Dance Masters on the Irish dance scene. Pádraig hails from South Armagh, and Róisín from Dublin, but together they make their home in Annagassan and have been dancing together since they met in 1989. Indeed, it was through dancing that they first met, when mutual friends paired them together as the “perfect couple” on and off the dance floor.

Both studied Irish Dancing as children, but when they met legendary set dance Master Connie Ryan, they both were hooked on the traditional sets of Ireland. They were members of the Slievenamon Set Dancers who toured throughout the United States. They have produced two DVD/CD packages entitled The Full Set 1&2 with their group Faoi Do Chois (On your feet). They continue to teach weekly classes and workshops throughout Ireland and also have held master classes in the USA, UK, Italy, France, Dubai, Germany, Denmark, Canada, Corsica and many other locations around the World.

Pádraig composed the popular Merchant Set, dedicated to their long-time friend Ned O’Shea, owner of the Merchant Pub in Dublin, where they taught classes for many years. He also composed the CroisLoch Set dedicated to Pádraig’s parents from Crossmaglen and Camlough in Co. Armagh. Pádraig’s latest composition is the Corsican Set. Pádraig and Rósiín have been visiting Corsica since 2000. The Corsican have their own quadrilles but they always wanted their own set. Padraig wove their movements into the Corsican Set.

Pádraig and Rósiín has recently been honoured by CCE for the work on preserving and promoting traditional dance. They were awarded Gradam na hÉigse in November 2025. They are the first Dance masters to receive this award.

They are known for their fancy footwork and attention to detail in maintaining the special features of each individual set, and cater to dancers of all ages and abilities in a relaxed and friendly manner.

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.

More information coming soon...

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.

From the West of Ireland and now living in Skerries, Aine Martin has been playing the traditional Irish harp for over 15 years. She performs on her brother Mossie Martin’s Album ‘The Humours of Derrynacoosan’ and has won various individual and group music competitions over the years such as Siansa Gael Linn and The O’Carolan Senior Harp Competition.

More information coming soon...

More information coming soon...

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.

Éilís Needham is a multi-instrumentalist from Hazelwood Co. Sligo. She has numerous All Ireland titles to her name on both the harp and button accordion and most recently became the Winner of the prestigious International Harp Competition at the O’Carolan Harp Festival in Keadue, Co. Roscommon in August of 2024. She was the All Ireland Senior Champion in the Harp Slow Airs competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Mullingar in 2022. She released her debut album titled "Fuinniúil" in 2017. Éilís has appeared on TG4, RTÉ and Raidió a Gaeltachta. She performed on the TG4 “Fleadh Fest” series that aired summer of 2021 and has won many competitions with her newly composed tunes. One of her own tunes was published in the Irish Music magazine in 2021. Éilís was a finalist in the prestigious Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada competition that took place in Co. Cork in both 2021 and 2025. Éilís performed in the National Concert Hall as a finalist in the Siansa Gael Linn competition and she really enjoys teaching music on a weekly basis in Cork city.

Emer Ní Scolaí is a 21 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 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.