Michael Rooney is a composer and traditional Irish harp player from Scotstown, County Monaghan, now residing in County Sligo. He has composed 19 suites of music over the past 20 years, including notable works such as ‘The Ulster Suite’ (2022), ‘Clairseoireacht’ (2022), ‘Constance’ (2020), ‘The Famine Suite’ (2019), ‘The Macalla Suite’ (2016), ‘Boróimhe Suite’ (2014), ‘The Second Coming’ (2014), ‘De Cuéllar Suite’ (2011), and ‘Battle of the Books Suite’ (2007).
Laoise Kelly is an Irish harpist known for her contributions to traditional Irish music. She has played a significant role in shaping the contemporary landscape of Irish harp music with her distinctive style and dedication.
In 2020, Kelly received the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Traditional Musician of the Year award. She co-founded the band Bumblebees and is a founding member of the traditional group Fiddletree. Her collaborations include working with The Chieftains, Sharon Shannon, and Matt Molloy, as well as international orchestras and traditional music ensembles.
Kelly has released several solo albums featuring traditional Irish tunes and original compositions. She also appears on numerous collaborative recordings, contributing to a variety of projects within the traditional music community.
In addition to her performing career, Kelly is actively involved in teaching. She conducts workshops and masterclasses for harp students around the world, promoting the Irish harp and traditional Irish music.
Kelly performs at major festivals and venues globally, including Celtic Connections and The National Concert Hall in Dublin. Her efforts in performance, recording, and education continue to support and enhance the appreciation of traditional Irish music.
The Instruments of Irish Traditional Music
Cormac Breatnach – Low whistle
The Irish Low Whistle – A Complete Introduction
Photo: Laoise Kelly
Noel Hill, is a prominent Irish concertina player known for his influence on modern Irish concertina music and on Irish traditional music in general.
Noel Hill grew up in a musically rich environment. His family, including his parents, grandparents, and their siblings, were all concertina players. His uncle, Padraig A Chnoic (Paddy Hill), played a significant role in his musical development. Hill’s home was the last in the area to host traditional Irish house dances, providing a lively atmosphere for learning music. He started playing the concertina at the age of nine, initially guided by his mother.
Although Hill was interested in the uilleann pipes, he focused on the concertina due to its availability. He was influenced by renowned musicians such as Willie Clancy, Paddy Canny, Peter O’Loughlin, Paddy Murphy, and Micky Hanrahan. By age seventeen, Hill had formed the group Inchiquin with Tony Linnane, Tony Callanan, and Kieran Hanrahan. After Callanan and Hanrahan left to form Stockton’s Wing, Hill and Linnane continued as a duo.
Noel Hill’s career is marked by several key recordings:
Hill has toured extensively, performing in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, and Hong Kong. He also teaches at the Willie Clancy Summer School and runs the Noel Hill Irish Concertina Schools in Ireland and the United States.
In 2011, Hill received TG4’s Gradam Ceoil award, acknowledging his contributions to Irish music. His performances and recordings are well-regarded for their technical skill and depth.
Irish Concertina Fingering Chart
Tune Types in Irish Traditional Music
Image: Noel Hill
Liam O’Flynn, also known as Liam Óg Flynn, was an Irish uilleann piper. Born on 15 September 1945 in Kill, County Kildare, he was as a prominent figure in the world of Irish traditional music.
Seamus Ennis was was an Irish musician, singer, and collector of Irish music, known primarily for his uilleann pipe playing. He was born on 5 May 1919 in Finglas, County Dublin, and passed away on 5 October 1982.
In the heart of County Clare, the legacy of Willie Clancy, a master of the uilleann pipes, continues to resonate through the annual Willie Clancy Summer School. Since its inception in 1973, the school has become a pivotal institution for Irish traditional music, attracting enthusiasts from across the globe.
Willie Clancy was an uilleann piper from Co. Clare. Born in 1918 in Miltown Malbay, he emerged as one of the most influential uilleann pipers of the 20th century. the Willie Clancy Summer School was established in his honor in 1973.
Kevin Burke is an Irish fiddler renowned for his virtuosic playing in the Sligo style of Irish fiddling. One of the most influential fiddlers today, he gained widespread recognition as a member of iconic Irish bands such as The Bothy Band and Patrick Street as well as with his solo work.
Michael Coleman was an influential Irish fiddler from Killavil in Sligo, born in 1891. His playing style has been highly influential in Irish traditional music, particularly in the development of the “Sligo style” of fiddling.
Martin Hayes is an Irish fiddle player from County Clare, Ireland, from a family with strong Irish music traditions. His father, P. Joe Hayes was also a notable fiddle player.
Français