Kitty Hayes (born Smith) was an Irish concertina player from Fahanlunaghta, not far from Lahinch, in West Clare. Her father Peter was also a concertina player, and played in nearby Miltown Malbay. She married flute and whistle player Josie Hayes, who played with the Laichtín Naofa Céilí Band. Music took a back seat as she raised 7 children, and nursed her father then her husband.
She recorded two albums, A touch of Clare and They’ll be Good Yet (with Peter Laban). After her death, Kitty’s daughter, Angela Connaughton produced a CD to remember Kitty and to once more celebrate her music : Kitty Hayes Remembered. The music on the CD was taken from concerts at the Masters of Tradition in Bantry House which took place in August 2007 and the Kitty Hayes Tribute concert in Glór in Ennis in november 2007.