Tutors for Workshops on Saturday 5th May

Daithi Gormley – Accordion

From Ballintogher, Co Sligo, Daithí Gormley is regarded as one of the finest Button Accordion players of his generation with an extensive and much respected repertoire steeped in the rich musical heritage of his native County Sligo. He has taught and performed at various musical festivals and Summer Schools nationally and internationally including the South Sligo Summer School, Joe Mooney Summer School and Scoil Egise. He has researched, published and lectured extensively on the history of Irish traditional music and is in high demand as an accomplished tutor, lecturer and performer. In November 2017 Daithí and Sligo fiddler Oisín MacDiarmada published the “Fiddlers of Sligo” Tunebook and his first solo album is due for release in Spring 2018.

Aoife Granville – Flute

Aoife Granville is from Dingle and is highly regarded as a multi-instrumentalist and singer. She has performed, toured and recorded extensively and has recorded two solo albums to date. Aoife is regarded as an influential figure in the contemporary Irish fluting tradition and holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology (UCC). She teaches, lectures and researches in Irish traditional music, festival musics and popular music culture having held lectureship posts at Newcastle University (UK) and University College Cork. Aoife has been an invited lecturer and performer throughout Ireland as well as through Europe and the US and is the currently researching an Arts Council funded project on the songs of Corca Dhuibhne from Bailiúcháin na Scol (The Schools Collection).

Sorcha Costello – Fiddle

Sorcha Costello has been playing music since before she can remember. At a very young age she performed with her mother in Shetland, Norway, France, Australia and Ireland. Now at the age of 22 she has a degree in Music and English from UCC and has had an illustrious career having won various All-Ireland Fleadhanna Cheoil solo, duet and band accolades. A native of Tulla, Co Clare, Sorcha has inherited the East Clare style of fiddle playing but also has an interest in other fiddle styles such as that of Liz Carroll, Tommy Potts and Brian Rooney. She has performed as a solo musician on national radio and TV and continues to perform as a solo artist at festivals such as Cork Folk Festival, Templebar Tradfest, Masters of Tradition, Feakle International Festival of traditional music and many more. On the recently reseased album “The Lady’s Cup of Tea” which Sorcha recorded with her mother Mary MacNamara, the magical empathy that results from a mother/daughter musical bond is captured. Sorcha is now a sought after fiddle teacher in East Clare.

Aidan Connolly – Fiddle

Aidan Connolly is a fiddle player from Rathfarnham in Dublin and was introduced to traditional music by his mother, Eileen Moynihan, a native of Gneeveguilla in the heart of Sliabh Luachra. He attended classes at the Craobh Naithí branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann from the age of eight.

At Craobh Naithí he had a number of teachers including Brendan Needham, Claire Walsh and Mary O’Halloran. Regular pub and house sessions were organised for the younger players and these occasions were important for meeting and playing with other musicians. Aidan took one-to-one lessons with local fiddler Tomás MacUileagóid between the ages of 13 and 17, which had a significant impact on his development. Aidan participated at Fleadhanna Cheoil as a teenager in the individual, duet and trio categories as well as with the Craobh Naithí Grupaí Cheoil and Céilí bands, with lots of success.

Sliabh Luachra music has had an important influence on Aidan’s playing, having been introduced to it through his mother and uncle, Con Moynihan, a fiddle player based in Castleisland. The Star Above the Garter was the first album Aidan heard and since then he has been taken with the music of Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford and Pádraig O’Keefe amongst others. Con gave Aidan a copy of Paddy Cronin’s two albums from the 1970’s – Kerry’s Own and The Rakish Paddy – and this was an important intervention, as Aidan been enamoured with Paddy’s playing, an influence to be heard in his music today.

Aidan has listened widely to fiddle music from all over Ireland and further afield from the 78rpm-era onwards, which has resulted in diverse influences on his style of playing. He cites James Morrison, Michael Coleman, Paddy Canny and Máirtín Byrnes as key figures but the list could fill the page!

Aidan has his own unique style of playing and is a highly sought after performer both in Ireland and abroad. He has performed at concerts in Britain, Europe and Australia, and regularly tours in the USA. He is also a regular performer in Dublin and a respected teacher of the fiddle in the locality and also at festival workshops. Aidan released his debut album, Be Off, in October 2016 to critical acclaim.

Theresa  O’Grady – Banjo

Theresa O’Grady was born and brought up in Luton, England. She now lives in Aclare, Co. Sligo. Theresa along with her 2 brothers James (Fiddle and pipes) and Ciaran (Concertina) would have many All Ireland titles to their names. “The O’Gradys”, as they more commonly known in their early music careers were privileged to have learned their music from, and played with great Musicians such as Annette Caulfield, Tommy Keane, Paddy Hayes and Brian Rooney to name but a few. This exposure from a young age has been a great asset to Theresa as she is now one of the finest female banjo players in the country. She has been a very popular teacher at the Willie Clancy Summer School and South Sligo Summer School for a number of years and more recently Scoil Eigse and Tocan in France.

Theresa moved to Dublin in 1997 with work and from there met and married Sligo born Piano Accordion player Declan Payne in 2003 and moved to Sligo. Theresa is currently recording her first solo album, so, watch this space!!

James O’Connor – Bodhrán

James O’Connor has over 15 years of Bodhrán playing experience and recently won the Senior All-Ireland Bodhrán competition in Ennis in 2017. His style combines his West Limerick wrenboy roots with modern percussion influences.

Eibhlín Broderick – Singing

Eibhlín Broderick from Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick is a Multi-All Ireland champion with 5 titles to her name between singing and lilting. She recently graduated with a Master of Arts in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick. Eibhlín also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Irish Music and Dance and has recently released her debut album “My Silver River Feale”.

Adrian Moriarty – Sean Nós Dancing

Adrian Moriarty is a well known Set and Sean Nós Dancing teacher from Kilcummin. Adrian began dancing at a very young age representing Kilcummin Comhaltas and his GAA club in Scór where he enjoyed much success at County, Munster and All Ireland level. He commenced his teaching career at the young age of seventeen and it wasn’t long before success followed him as a successful trainer. Presently Adrian is teaching in a host of venues around the Munster region and has also toured with traditional groups overseas.

Hugh Healy – Concertina

Hugh Healy is a concertina player from Corofin Co. Clare. He has played in Clare with many musicians, among those his brothers Colm (accordion) and Eric (fiddle). Hugh recorded his first CD “Macalla na hOige” in 2004 with his brother Colm, his second CD “We Were Drinking and Kissing the Ladies” was with Blackie O Connell in 2010.

He has taught in many festivals such as the “Willie Clancy, Tubbercurry, Meitheal, Mrs Crotty, Consairtin and Scoil Eigse,” to name a few.