SHOWCASES 2026

We are delighted to introduce our showcase performers for Cruinniú 2026:

NICOLE NÍ DHUBHSLÁINE

Is flúiteadóir í Nicole Ní Dhubhshláine ón nGráig i gCorca Dhuibhne a sheineann an fheadóg stáin agus an consairtín chomh maith. Chuaigh ceol Iarthar Duibhneach i bhfeidhm go mór uirthi ó aois óg agus na múinteoirí a bhí aici ar Scoil Dhún Chaoin, múinteoir an fheadóg mhór Aoife Ní Ghrainbhéil agus clann ceolmhar Uí Bheaglaoich sa dúthaígh a mhúscail an stíl ceoil atá ag Nicole anois.

Bronnadh an Scoláireacht Quercus Creative and Performing Arts uirthi agus í i mbun staidéir ar an gCeol agus an Ghaelainn i gColáiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh. Bhain Nicole Céad Onóracha amach ina BA agus i Baitsiléir an Cheoil chomh maith agus bhronn Roinn an Cheoil Gradam Cuimhneacháin Sheáin Uí Riada uirthi an bhliain céanna. Is láithreoir í Nicole ar an gclár An Braon Gaelach, clár ceoil seachtainiúil ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta agus d’obair sí mar chúntóir léirithe ar chláracha ceoil agus cláracha fáisnéise a bhíonn ar TG4. Bíonn Nicole ag múineadh ceachtanna ceoil ar an gconsairtín agus an fheadóg don chéad ghlúin eile ag cur béime ar cheol Iarthar Duibhneach agus bíonn sí ag múineadh ag Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh leis. Thaifead Nicole a céad albam i 2019 agus tá sí fós gníomhach mar cheoltóir agus í mar bhonn don ngrúpa Cuas.

Nicole Ní Dhubhshláine is a flute, whistle and concertina player from An Ghráig on the Corca Dhuibhne peninsula. Heavily influenced at an early age by her teachers in Scoil Dhún Chaoin, flute teacher Aoife Granville, and the Begley family, the music of West Kerry has shaped her approach to,
and understanding of, music. Nicole received a Quercus Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship to study music and Gaeilge in UCC. Nicole was awarded first class honours in her BA and achieved a
subsequent first-class honour in her Bachelor of Music. Nicole is the current host of An Braon Gaelach, a traditional music programme on RTE RnaG and has worked as a production assistant on significant Irish language music documentaries. She places great importance on passing the local music to the next generation, teaching privately, through classes organised by Comharchumman Chorca Dhuibhne, and at festivals including Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh. Nicole is also active as a practicing musician, recording her debut album in 2019, and with the band Cuas in 2024 with whom she plays mostly frequently with now.

MARK TOMANY

As Tulaigh Charbaid i gContae Mhuineacháin is ea Mark Tomany a thosnaigh ar an bhfliúit nuair a bhí sé thart ar deich mbliana d’aois. Bhí na teagascóiri Drew Hurley agus Séamus Tierney ana thabhachtach ina thuras ceoil agus na fliúiteadóirí mór le rá Tommy Fitzharris, Harry Bradley agus Séamus Tansey mar thionchair air thairis na blianta. Ní h’aon stróinséar don gCruinniú é Mark atá ag teacht mar mhac léinn go Cruinniú ó bhí sé óg. Tá sé ag staidéar i mBéal Feirste fé láthair ar ábhar an Cógaisíocht agus caitheann sé ana chuid ama ag freastail ar seisiúin ceoil ansin chomh maith le bheith ag freastal ar fhéiltí fuaid fad na tíre.

Mark Tomany is an Irish Traditional Flute player from Tullycorbet in County Monaghan. Mark began playing the flute at aged ten under the guidance of Drew Hurley and Seamus Tierney. Mark has been heavily influenced by flute players across the country such as Tommy Fitzharris, Harry Bradley and Seamus Tansey. Mark is currently working as a pre-reg pharmacist in Belfast City Hospital and enjoys attending and playing at various music festivals throughout Ireland.

CAOILTE MORRISON

Is seinnteoir fliúite é Caoilte Morrison as Ráth Fearnáin, Baile Átha Cliath, agus tá sé ag seinm na fliúite le 18 mbliana anuas. An duine is óige de thriúr deartháireacha é, agus bhí an t-ádh air fás aníos i dtimpeallacht a raibh an ceol go smior inti. D’fhoghlaim sé cuid mhór óna dheartháireacha níos sine, Oisín agus Fionn, a roinn a dtreoir agus a misneach leis ó aois an-óg.

Le fada an lá tá suim mhór ag Caoilte i seanstíleanna an cheoil thraidisiúnta Éireannaigh, agus tarraingíonn sé inspioráid ó na mórsheinnteoirí fliúite as Tuaisceart Chonnacht, ina measc John McKenna, Mick Woods, Séamus Tansey, John-Joe Gardiner, Packie Duignan, agus Kevin Henry. Caitheann sé cuid mhór dá chuid ama ag éisteacht leis na ceoltóirí seo, chomh maith le go leor eile, ag foghlaim óna gceol agus óna stíl sheinnte.

Taobh amuigh dá shuim sa cheol féin, tá Caoilte tar éis dul i mbun go domhain de stair agus de scéalta saoil cheoltóirí traidisiúnta, go háirithe iad siúd a chuaigh ar imirce ó Éirinn go Meiriceá agus go Sasana. Leanann an ceangal seo leis an gceol agus leis na daoine a sheinn é de bheith ag múnlú a sheinnte agus a thuisceana ar an traidisiún, á bhunú ar mheas, fiosracht, agus fíorghrá do cheol na hÉireann.

Caoilte Morrison is a flute player from Rathfarnham, Dublin, and has been playing the flute for the past 18 years. The youngest of three brothers, he was fortunate to grow up surrounded by music and learned a great deal from his older brothers, Oisín and Fionn, who shared their guidance and encouragement with him from an early age.

Caoilte has long held a strong interest in the older styles of Irish traditional music, drawing inspiration from the great flute players of North Connaught, including John McKenna, Mick Woods, Séamus Tansey, John-Joe Gardiner, Packie Duignan, and Kevin Henry. He spends much of his time listening to these musicians, as well as many more, learning from their playing.

Alongside his musical interests, Caoilte has become deeply engaged with the history and life stories of traditional musicians, especially those who emigrated from Ireland to America and England. This connection to both the music and the lives behind it continues to shape his playing and his understanding of the tradition, grounding it in respect, curiosity, and a genuine love for the music of Ireland.