2023 Tutors
| Anthony Quigney comes from a well-known, Co Clare traditional music family. He plays flute, whistles and piano and has been a member of the iconic Kilfenora Céilí Band for 3 decades. He has toured far and wide & has appeared on 9 studio albums including band, solo & duet projects. His solo flute and whistle album, “Breath-Taking” was released in 2021. He is also an accomplished music teacher, arranger, and producer and has been a board member of Glór Arts Centre. |  |
| Niamh Dunne is an accomplished fiddle player and singer known for her folk infused fiddle compositions and smoky warm vocal style. She has performed on the world stage as founding member of the renowned band Beoga. Their album ‘How to tune a fish’ was shortlisted for a Grammy nomination in the ‘Best contemporary world music album’ and they have won widespread acclaim for their collaboration with Ed Sheeran. |  |
| Piper and fluteplayer, Ivan Goff is from Dublin and is a member of Irish traditional band Danú. He has performed/toured worldwide in duets and ensembles with many household names of Irish music including Martin Hayes, Eileen Ivers, Dervish, and Lúnasa. With credits that range from film and theatre to appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Ivan has also performed in Broadway productions such as Riverdance etc. Ivan has a PhD in music from NYU and MAs from Queens, Belfast and UCD. |  |
| An all-round extraordinary musician, Tara Breen was the fiddler with the legendary band The Chieftains. She has 11 solo All-Ireland titles and was invited to perform at Dublin Castle for the Queen of England during her State visit to Ireland. Tara has numerous recording credits to her name and regularly guests with artists such as Carlos Nuñez, Stockton’s wing, and the Trí Tones. Tara also tours with Pádraig Rynne and Jim Murray. |  |
| Cork native, Alan Finn is leader of the Shandrum Céilí Band. A winner of multiple awards, he performed for Barack Obama in the White House on St. Patrick’s Day in his first year in office. Renowned as a box-player, he also plays fiddle and viola and is possibly the most successful ever céilí band and grúpa ceoil coach. He teaches music all over North Cork. |  |
| Doireann Ní Ghlacáin is a fiddle player, sean-nós singer, academic and broadcaster from Clontarf Dublin. She learnt the fiddle from her father and inherited a love of the Irish language from her mother who hails from the west Cork Gaeltacht of Cúil Aodha. Ní Ghlacáin has been at the forefront of Irish language broadcasting with her work with TG4 and has toured the world with her fiddle playing in China, The Middle East and all over Europe and America. |  |
| Ronan O'Flaherty is in much demand as a performer and fiddle tutor and has over 20 years’ experience. He has guested on many studio albums over the years and recorded a critically acclaimed duet album with the renowned concertina player Edel Fox back in 2006. He's a member of the legendary De Danann with whom he has toured Europe, America and Canada. |  |
| Eimear Coughlan from Tulla in Co. Clare continues the musical heritage of her grandfather Paddy Canny. As a multi-instrumentalist, she has performed on several music tours throughout Europe. Also a fiddle player, Eimear learned her music from her grandfather and in more recent times, she has become a member of the highly acclaimed Tulla Céilí Band. Eimear’s harp playing can be heard on the new album ‘Úrnua’ with Carl Hession and Francis Cunningham. |  |
| Jody Moran is accomplished on a variety of instruments (including lilting!) but most well-known for his tenor banjo playing. He has tutored in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and France has also twice won the gold medal in the newly composed tune category at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Since emigrating to Australia he has been nurturing the scene there with an annual traditional music festival. He is also a mainstay in the vastly popular Facebook group for fellow tenor banjo nerds; ‘Banjoheads’ |  |
| Francis Cunningham hails from Crusheen, Co. Clare. He is described by Kevin Crawford as one of the finest young exponents of the concertina with a strong emphasis on the Clare tradition. A winner of numerous All-Ireland concertina titles, he has taught and performed at various festivals such Scoil Samhradh Willie Clancy, Consairtín, The Feakle Festival, Scoil Éigse, The O Carolan Harp Festival and Concertina Cruinniú. |  |
| Cathall King is an accomplished flute player and music teacher from Limerick. He has performed and taught all over the world with several bands and dance groups before returning home to become a secondary teacher. |  |
| Aisling Drost Byrne is a graduate of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in Limerick where she is now based, working as a freelance musician and music tutor. She has been involved in a wide variety of projects and has worked with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and the RTÉ Orchestra and as a soloist with the Irish Gamelan Orchestra. |  |
| Claire Fennell from Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, plays Flute, Uilleann Pipes and Tin Whistle. She was greatly influenced by the playing of Conal Ó Gráda, Johnny McCarthy, David Power and Caoimhín Ó Fearghail. She has taught and performed at many music festivals throughout the country. Claire is a member of the current Senior All Ireland Céilí Band Champions, Taobh na Mara. |  |
| All-Ireland winning Concertina player, Clara Mannion has a first-class honours BA in Music. She has performed on several tours in England, America, Canada and many countries in Europe. Clara teaches concertina extensively around Ireland and overseas. |  |
| World Senior banjo champion and seven time All Ireland champion, James Harvey, was a member of the renowned Irish group ‘Goitse’ who toured the world extensively. They won numerous awards including Live Ireland’s Trad Group of the Year 2015. He is a highly sought-after banjo teacher with many of his students achieving All-Ireland titles. |  |
