A traditional and original Irish music concert to entertain the chieftain
It will be a great evening when five Irish musicians from Danú and Altan combine forces. But before that, here is some background information on the members of the two supergroups.
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is a native of the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair. Her first language is Gaelic and she has learnt many of her songs from family and neighbours as well as sourcing older material from archive facilities.
She is renowned as one of the leading exponents of Donegal fiddle music and likes to promote the music which she has inherited from her late father Francie, whenever possible. She is a founding member of Cairdeas na bhFidléirí, which was set up 25 years ago to preserve and facilitate the development of the Donegal fiddling tradition for future generations.
Mairéad's musical inspiration initially came from her family and neighbours, her father being a great fiddle teacher with a wealth of unusual local tunes, many learnt from his mother, Róise. She also received tuition and inspiration from Buncrana fiddle player, Dinny McLaughlin, who was a frequent visitor to her home when she was growing up. Mairéad founded Altan along with her late husband, Frankie Kennedy; from humble beginnings they brought their music to the world arena without compromising the deep musical tradition they loved.
Along with her work with Altan, Mairéad is always in demand for solo work or presenting traditional music programmes on radio or television; past projects include the classic radio show The Long Note and the television series The Pure Drop. A new series she presents, The Full Set, was aired on the principal Irish TV channel RTÉ1 in June 2008, and were broadcasted simultaneously on the web.
Mairéad has recorded with other prominent musicians such as Enya, the Chieftains, Dolly Parton, The String Sisters and many more. She has just released her first solo project, entitled Imeall.
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh grew up immersed in the vibrant West-Kerry tradition with its wild dance music, soulful slow airs and vast repertoire of songs. Her father, a fiddler, would bring her to music sessions from a young age. There she began to play music on the flute and tin-whistle and to sing sean-nós songs, learning from wonderful local singers. She also attended Siamsa Tíre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, for several years.
In 2002 Muireann was awarded an M.A. in Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick where she currently tutors both flute and singing. She toured and performed with various musicians and groups before joining the group Danú in 2003. In 2004 Danú won the BBC 2 Folk Award for "Best Group". At the same awards, the song "The County Down" by Tommy Sands that Danú had recently recorded, won "Best Song". Muireann herself won "Best Singer" at the liveireland.com Awards in 2005. She has toured the world with her music visiting countries as far flung as India, Bulgaria and Jordan. She continues to tour regularly with Danú.
Now a regular contributor to television and radio programmes at home and abroad, Muireann featured prominently in the"Highland Sessions" BBC television series, celebrating the best of Irish and Scottish traditional music and song. She also co-hosted and performed at the 2007 and 2009 Gradaim Cheoil TG4 (Traditional Music Awards) and has presented many music programmes. Muireann is extremely sought after, both as a vocalist and flute player, and has collaborated with many musicians at home and abroad such as Julie Fowlis, Darrell Scott, Liam Clancy and The Bulgarian Women’s Choir. She released her solo album 'Daybreak: Fáinne an Lae' in 2006 to great acclaim. Her most recent recording, "Dual" is a collaborative project with Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley and Ross Martin exploring the links between Irish and Scots Gaelic music and song.
Muireann has visited Denmark many times, having toured the country extensively, and played several times at the wonderful Tønder Festival.
Benny McCarthy
One of Ireland’s leading exponents on the accordion and melodion, Benny hails from Deelish in Co. Waterford. He has played the button accordion since 1987, spending many of those years under the tutelage of the great Bobby Gardiner, the benefit of which he still feels today. In his formative years, he attended the world famous Willie Clancy Festival in Miltown Malbay, and many Fleadh Ceoils. Among his influences, he claims Jackie Daly, Mairtin O'Connor, Aidan Coffey and Bobby Gardiner.
In 1995 Benny founded the Traditional Music Supergroup Danú along with old school friends Donnchadh Gough,Donal Clancy and Dublin fiddler Daire Bracken. Danú went on to become an extremely important act on the world stage and Benny continues to tour with the world with them to this day.
He has played every type of accordion from Hohner melodeon to a Bertrand Gaillard. He tunes and repairs accordions in his spare time which has given him a huge insight into the instrument itself.
Of late he has recorded with Rattle the Boards and continues to be a member of Danú.
Dónal Clancy
Dónal was born in 1975 and spent most of his early childhood in Canada and the U.S. before his family settled back in An Rinn, Co. Waterford, Ireland, in 1983. He started learning traditional Irish music on the tin whistle at the age of eight and received his first guitar shortly after, learning the basics from his father.
Inspired by Irish guitarists Arty McGlynn, Paul Brady and others, Dónal began practicing Irish tunes on the guitar and also started to play accompaniment to his many friends in the area who were playing Irish music. In addition to Irish music, he took a keen interest in a variety of acoustic guitar styles and was greatly influenced by early country blues recordings as well as such modern players as John Renbourn, Stefan Grossman, Archie Fisher, Duck Baker and Nic Jones.
In 1995 Dónal co-founded the group Danú, but departed soon after to tour with his father Liam and cousin Robbie O’Connell. In 1998, he moved to the U.S. and became involved in the Irish-American music scene playing mostly with The Eileen Ivers Band and later the group Solas.
In 2003, he re-joined his friends in Danú, with which group he still performs.
Billy Mag Fhloinn was born and raised in a musical family in Limerick City. He began playing traditional music in 1996, beginning on the bodhrán. He then progressed onto the bouzouki, after a chance find of an old Greek model in a music shop in Limerick. He learned much of his playing from musicians Mick Broderick and Tony Davoren when living in Dublin, and gained great experience within the dynamic dance music tradition of west Kerry.
He has played in a variety of countries, including England, Scotland, the USA and Germany. He has also played in Denmark, and particularly enjoys visiting the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde. He has recorded on several albums as an accompanist, his most recent work being with his wife Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.
When not playing music, he lectures on a variety of subjects, including Irish music, as part of an Irish Heritage Studies Degree in Limerick.