Turlough O’Carolan (1670–1738), often called Carolan, occupies a special place in Irish cultural history. A blind harper, composer, and singer, he is remembered as one of the last great figures of the old Gaelic harp tradition and, at the same time, as a composer whose music absorbed European influences of the Baroque era. His compositions, known as planxties, laments, and airs, survive as a body of work that continues to be played and adapted by traditional musicians and classical performers alike. Carolan was a musician who stood at the crossroads of two worlds: the fading bardic order rooted in Gaelic society, and the new cultural realities of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Irish accordion player Joe Cooley was born in 1924 in Peterswell, County Galway. A builder by trade, he was a charismatic figure in traditional music scenes in Clare, Britain, and the USA. Both his parents played the melodeon, and most of his older brothers were musicians. The Cooley house was a popular gathering place for dances, with music provided by the family.
Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh is a concertina player from County Meath, Ireland. Growing up in a musical family, he developed a strong foundation in traditional Irish music from an early age and has led to a significant career as a performer, recording artist, and teacher.
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.
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:
Noel Hill and Tony Linnane (1978): Featuring Tony Linnane (fiddle), Matt Molloy (flute), and Alec Finn (bouzouki and mando-cello).
Í gCnoc na Graí (1985): Recorded live with Tony MacMahon and Clare set dancers.
The Irish Concertina (1988): His first solo album, which became an important reference for concertina playing.
The Irish Concertina 2 (2005).
The Irish Concertina 3 ‘Live in New York’ (2016).
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.
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.
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