Teagascóirí / Tutors

Aidan Connolly is from Rathfarnham, Dublin, and has been playing from a very early age. While Aidan’s music is rooted in the rich heritage of Sliabh Luachra, his mother’s native area, he has listened and played extensively with musicians from all over Ireland and beyond, forging a mature playing style informed by many diverse influences. He has many recordings to date, including Be Off, Away on Up the Road, The Portland Bow and most recently Keane-Connolly-McGorman.

Eileen O’Brien: from Tipperary, comes from a family background that is steeped in the Irish tradition. Her father Paddy was also one of the most prolific composers of traditional music. Eileen, a highly respected teacher and composer has three solo albums to date, is an All-Ireland champion in senior fiddle and slow airs and has toured and taught extensively in Ireland and abroad.

Boscadóir iontach as Dumha Thuama, Iorras, Contae Mhaigh Eo. Bhí tionchar mór ag ceoltoirí áitiúla agus ag leithéidí Joe Cooley, Tony MacMahon agus Des Mulkere ar a stíl cheoil. Bhuaigh Fiachna Craobh na hÉireann ar an mbosca ceoil ag Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2002 agus bronnadh Gradam Ceoil TG4 (Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana) air in 2007.

Anne Conroy Burke: from East Galway, wife of the late Joe Burke, Anne is an exceptional accordian player and teacher and has taught at various festivals across the country. She has a deep and natural understanding of the music, having listened first to the rich tradition of her native county and later to the many fine musicians she met on world travels and tours.

Sarah-Jane Woods: Is fliúitadóir ó Bhaile Átha Cliath í Sarah-Jane Woods a d’fhoghlaim a cuid ceoil ó Michael Tubridy. Is múinteoir bunscoile í agus bíonn sí ag teagasc go seachtainiúil le Craobh Naithí, CCÉ agus ag féilte ceoil ar fud na tire. Tá Craobh na hÉireann buaite aici agus thaisteal sí le Comhaltas agus le grúpaí éagsúla, ina measc, Líadan.

Barry Conaty: from Ballyhaise Co Cavan, is a primary school teacher who won the Senior Flute and Senior Piano competitions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2022. He has toured with Comhaltas Ceolóirí Eireann and is member of the Glór na dTonn.

Órnaith Ní Loingsigh is a flute and tin whistle player from Ballyea, Co. Clare. Órnaith graduated with a degree in Music and Irish from University College Cork in 2018 and continued her studies at Mary Immaculate College to study the Professional Masters in Education. She learned her flute playing from Roscommon’s own John Kelly and attributes her musical success at the Fleadh to her years spent playing with Inis Óg and Pádraic Ó Reilly. Órnaith teaches regularly and has performed throughout the country and the USA.

Deirdre Hurley: is a flute and tin whistle player hailing from a musical family in Ballymote, Co. Sligo. She regularly teaches and performs in Ireland and further afield, including appearances in Áras an Uachtaráin, Liberty Hall and the National Concert Hall.

Paul Clesham: from Hollymount, County Mayo, Paul is a multi-talented multi-instrumentalist! Now based in Cork and currently completing a PHD at UCC, Paul enjoys teaching both classical and traditional music at all levels. He has won a plethora of awards including the Senior Concertina and Accompaniment competitions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the Mary V. Hart Memorial Prize and the Seán Ó Riada medal for Irish Traditional Music. He is also a member of the Piper’s Cross Céilí Band, All Ireland Champions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2023.

Conor O’Loughlin: is a concertina player from Corofin, Co. Clare and has featured as a prizewinner numerous times at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in solo & group competitions. Conor has toured extensively and has taught at renowned festivals such as Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Consairtín, Concertina Cruinniú & Meitheal. Conor recently released an album, ‘No Place Like Home’ with his mother Martina and brothers Brian and Keith.

Tom Cussen: a native of County Limerick now based in Clarinbridge Co Galway, Tom played the tenor banjo around the world with Shaskeen, a leading Traditional Irish Music band. He started Clareen Banjos in 1979, a family business specialising in manufacturing hand-made banjos which has grown into a world-renowned business.

Oisín Morrison, from Dublin and now living in Cork, is a flute player, harper and composer. He has an extensive background in teaching and performing at festivals both in Ireland and abroad, with numerous appearances on television and radio. Oisín has been recognised with various awards, including the prestigious Bonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada, the Oireachtas, and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Recently he was honour with the 2020 Visionary scheme by Trad Ireland. During his time as an Ad Astra performing Arts Scholar, he completed his Masters degree in Irish Literature, specializing in the music and song of Turlough O’Carolan. Notable composition works include the 2016 suite ‘Clann Lir’ and his appointment as composer in residence with Cork youth group, Ensemble Mhúscraí, where he crafted a suite of music inspired by the poetry of Seán Ó Ríordáin in 2020.

Maggie Maguire: is a fiddle player and teacher hailing from a stylistically-reputed family of musicians from Derrygonnelly, Co. Fermanagh. A host of awards have come her way via solo accolades, trio, duet, grúpaí ceoil agus céilí band competitions. After spending many years mentoring & encouraging young musicians, she established Tradacad, an Irish Music School based in Fermanagh & Tyrone in 2017. Maggie will teach the first ever Group Performance workshop for teenagers at Féile Chois Cuain this year.

Eoin O’Donnell: is a highly sought-after singer from South Sligo and grew up in a musical family. He has accumulated numerous All-Ireland fleadh medals down through the years and he is passionate about traditional Irish singing and and keeping the tradition alive.

Colm Jimmy Ó Curraoin: amhránaí den chéad scoth ar an Sean-Nós a rugadh agus a tógadh sna Mine, Indreabhán, i nGaeltacht Chonamara. Thug sé leis Corn Uí Riada ag Oireachtas na Samhna 2023 i gCill Airne.

Gearóid Ó Droighneáin: Damhsóir ar an sean-nós den chéad scoth, as Leitir Móir, Gaeltacht Chonamara. Tá neart duaiseanna agus gradam bainte amach aige síos trí na blianta i gcomórtais éagsúla ar fud na tíre – Comórtas Steip 2023 ag Oireachtas na Samhna i gCill Airne, ina measc. Bíonn tóir air anois mar theagascóir ag féilte ceoil in Éirinn agus thar lear.

Pádraig & Róisín McEneany: from Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, Pádraig and Róisín are two of Ireland’s foremost set dance tutors and they are in demand worldwide. Pádraig & Roisin have been coming to Féile for many years now and are firm favourites among the West Mayo set dance enthusiasts.