Concert: Eileen O'Brien, Jackie Daly, Anne Conroy Burke, Mary Conroy, Geraldine Cotter and The Trad Gathering

Eileen O’Brien, Tipperary

Eileen is the bearer of a family musical tradition spanning generations of her family. She is the daughter of Paddy O’Brien accordionist, composer and teacher. Eileen’s mother Eileen Seery was a member of the musical Seery family from Westmeath and Dublin. Eileen has spent her musical life promoting and passing on traditional music to future generations through performance, teaching, compositions, publications and recordings. Eileen has won All- Ireland titles in fiddle, slow airs and in ensemble competitions ie duets, trios and ceili bands. She has taught and performed all over the world. Publications and recordings include: The Compositions of Paddy O’Brien 1922-1991. Solo fiddle albums: The Fiddler’s Choice, Aon le hAon, Newtown bridge. Albums produced by Eileen: Paddy O’Brien solo recordings,(2022) the Banks of the Shannon (remastered) 2022 and Gléas by The Borúma Trio

Jackie Daly, Cork

Born and raised in the area known as Sliabh Luachra, Jackie Daly is one of the foremost living exponents of the distinctive music of that region. Among his early musical influences were his father, a melodeon (one-row accordion) player, and local fiddler Jim Keeffe, under whose tutelage he began playing at "crossroads dances". After working in the Dutch merchant navy for several years, Daly decided to become a professional musician on returning to Ireland in the early 1970s. In 1974 he won the All-Ireland Accordion Competition in Listowel, County Kerry. To qualify, he was obliged to play a B/C instrument, at the time the only system sanctioned by the competition organizers, but immediately afterwards returned to his chosen C#/D system. In 1977, his first solo recording was released by Topic Records of London as volume 6 of their Music from Sliabh Luachra series. Daly's musical career is notable for partnerships with several fiddlers, beginning with Séamus Creagh. Their 1977 album, Jackie Daly agus Séamus Creagh, brought Sliabh Luachra music to a wider audience and, with its tight unison playing, set the standard for future accordion and fiddle recordings.

Anne Conroy Burke, East Galway

Anne Conroy Burke is a highly respected musician and accordion teacher from East Galway. Ireland. Having performed music for many years throughout her lifetime, Anne has a deep and natural understanding of the music, having listened and learned first to the rich tradition of her native county, having fond memories of her father taking her to hear Paddy Carty, flute player and the many greats who came to join him in Moylan`s and Delaney`s bars, Loughrea and later to the many fine musicians she met on her world travels and tours. She regularly teaches music at her home and at summer schools/workshops. She plays a 2 row B/C accordion system and her classes are always with her encouragement and sense of fun! For the past few years she regularly Co Hosts the annual" Accordion Recital" with Jackie Daly, at the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy Week, in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.

Mary Conroy - East Galway - Singer & Guitarist

Mary's distinctive voice and range of repertoire, plus her unique style of guitar accompaniment and knowledge of traditional Irish music makes her much in demand. Recordings with, include: John Bowe (button accordion), Rodger Sherlock (flute), Mick Woods (flute), Kevin Taylor (piano accordion & piano). Mary has been a music presenter with Radio Kerry since 1990, her current programme "Tog Sos" runs on Mondays from 8-10pm.

Geraldine Cotter

A retired lecturer in Music Education at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Geraldine features regularly on TV, most recently on TG4’s Snugcheol and Slí na mBeaglaoich. In 2019, along with her brother Eamonn, she was the subject of the TG4 documentary Sé Mo Laoch. Geraldine has contributed to the documentaries Céard an Cheoil, Canúintí, Geantrai and Gradam Cheoil TG4. In 2017 she was presented with the MÓRglór Award, for outstanding contribution to traditional music in Co Clare. Geraldine features on over 30 albums including her debut solo album Piano+ Her publications include Transforming Tradition: Irish Traditional Music in Ennis Co. Clare 1950-1980 (2016), Rogha- Geraldine Cotter’s Choice (2008), Geraldine Cotter’s Tin Whistle Tutor (Ossian Publications, 1983) and Seinn an Piano (Ossian Publications, 1996) – which was the first-ever tutor for Irish traditional music for piano. She has contributed articles to The Art of Place: People and Landscape of County Clare, The Companion to Irish Traditional Music and Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland. Geraldine earned her PhD from Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. Her research interests include: teaching and learning of Irish traditional music, teachers as bridge builders between schools and community, community formation and learning in social contexts. She teaches and performs regularly at summer schools and events internationally such as the Willie Clancy Summer School, the Catskills Irish Art Week, Rencontre Musicale Irlandais in France and Masters of Tradition Bantry House. She is a member of the Boruma Trio and Shaskeen. She also performs with the Irish Concertina Ensemble and the Performing Landscapes Collective. She has performed with musicians such as Peadar O’Loughlin, Maeve Donnelly, Eileen O’Brien, Martin Hayes, Liz Carroll, Joanie Madden, Cherish the Ladies and Joe Burke.

*Please note that all advertised concert times are door opening times. Performances will commence 30 minutes after doors open.