We are delighted to announce our six teachers for Cruinniú 2023:
Liam Kelly
As Sligeach do Liam Kelly agus é mar ball den ngrúpa ionspioráideach Dervish ón tús. Comh maith leis an domhan a thaistil & iliomad taifead a dhéanamh leis an ngrúpa, tá dhá albam aonarach eisithe aige, ceann amháin acu taifeadta ar fheadóg mhór John McKenna. Cuirfimid fáilte roimh Liam don gcéad uair mar theagascóir ag an gCruinniú.
Liam Kelly grew up in Sligo Town and is a founding member of the band Dervish. He began playing traditional Irish music at the young age of 8 starting on the tin whistle at school and a couple of years later was taught by Carmel Gunning. He also played the accordion and was taught by the great Alfie Dineen. He began to play flute at the age of 16 and went on to play in a group called Poitin who appeared on the Late Late Show after winning a talent competition where the Late Late appearance was the prize.
Dervish then formed at the All Ireland Fleadh in 1989 after which they have gone on to produce 14 albums along with touring all over the world celebrating 32 years in the music business.
He also has a solo CD called Sweetwood released in 2010 which was named after the townland his father came from. Liam also released a duet album with Sligo fiddler Philip Duffy in 2015 called Sets in Stone, and has a new John McKenna tribute album recorded in 2021 playing one of the flutes that John McKenna used back in the 1920’s.
Brid O’Gorman
Is fliúitadóir iontach í Bríd O’Gorman ó Chontae an Chláir go bhfuil tóir ar a cuid ceoil agus stíl álainn séimh is stuama aici. Tá albam eisithe aici le Eoin O’Neill agus í tar éis seinnt le cuid mhaith grúpaí thairis na blianta, banna céilí an Turloughmore ina measc. Is múinteoir bunscoil í Bríd atá lonnaithe i mBunratty agus sé seo an darna uair do Bhríd a bheith linn.
Brid O’Gorman hails from Liscannor, Co.Clare. She grew up in a house where music was an integral part of everyday life. Her parents passed on their love of traditional Irish music to her and her siblings. Bríd began learning the whistle at the age of 5 from Gus Tierney of Kilfenora Céilí Band fame, and the timber flute at the age of 7, with Gus Tierney and Eamonn Cotter of Shaskeen fame. She won her first solo All-Ireland title in 1988, aged 12. Her musical journey has taken her to numerous fleadhs and festivals in Ireland, and all over the world over the last 20 years. She is now back living near Bunratty in County Clare, once again enjoying the local music scene.
Bríd has an album with Eoin O’Neill (‘Bluebells are Blooming’ 2016), and also on a number of other albums, including ‘Beneath the Hedgerow’, with Cliodhna Donnellan, ‘Seven Streams’ and ‘The Green Road’ with the Turloughmore Ceilí Band and Seán O’ Sé.
Bríd is a primary school teacher in Sixmilebridge National School, Co.Clare, where she runs the school band, and also encourages young musicians in her local area of Drumline. Her style of flute playing could be described as strong and steady, with a warm, rich tone, making for very pleasant listening.
Cein Sweeney
Is as Co an Chabhán do Chein Sweeney a tháinig chughainn ar dtús don ‘Showcase’ cúpla bliain ó shin. Do bhuaigh sé Craobh na hÉireann ar an bhfliúit sa bhlian 2015 agus é aitheanta mar dhuine dos na fliúitadóirí óga is fearr sa traidisiún inniu. Tá albam álainn eisithe aige lena gcomráidithe ceoil Dylan Carlos agus John McCartin.
Cein Sweeney is from Killeshandra, Co Cavan, a small town in west Cavan, with a proud reputation of solid Irish music. Cein has toured many places such as Spain, America and across the UK with many groups. Cein also won the All Ireland senior flute competition in 2015. Cein has taught music across the whole of Ireland at various workshops, festivals and Fleadh Cheoils.
Cein is no stranger to Cruinniú na bhFliúit as he performed in our showcase just last year.
Peter Molloy
As Cathair na Mart I gContae Mhaigh Eo is ea Peter & sé seo an darna bhliain dó a bheith linn. Tionchar mhór is ea Paul McGrattan agus a athar Matt ina chuid cheoil. Cloistear go minic é ag seinnt i dTabhairne a mhuintir.
Peter Molloy is from Westport Co Mayo and has been surrounded by music from an early age. He got his early tutelage from Paul McGrattan and then also from his father Matt. He can be found regularly playing in sessions in the family pub in Westport and has a strong interest in the Sligo/Roscommon style.
June McCormack
Is fliúitadóir as Sligeach í June NicCormaic gur bronnadh an chéad ‘Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana’ le TG4 sa bhliain 1998, an bhliain céanna gur bhuaigh sé Craobh na hÉireann ar an fheadóg mhór. Is múinteoir bunscoile í June go bhfuil ana-thóir uirthi mar mhuinteoir fliúite leis. Tá taifeadaí eisithe aici I dteannta a fhear chéile Michael Rooney, Banna Céilí an Dartry & an grúpa Síonna agus leabhair teagaisc fliútadóireachta curtha amach aici freisin. Sé seo an chéad uair do June a bheith ag teagaisc linn ag an gCruinniú.
June McCormack comes from Ballintogher, Co. Sligo. In 1998, June was awarded The TG4 Gradam ‘Young Musician of the Year Award’ in the Town Hall Theatre in Galway, and that same year, she won the All Ireland Senior Flute Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ballina.
A primary school teacher by profession, June has published two flute tutorial books in recent years, Fliúit (2006) and Fliúit 2 (2009). She has recorded three CDs with Michael Rooney; ‘Tobar an Cheoil’ (2022), ‘Land’s End’ (2006) and Draíocht’ (2004). June is a member of Sligo’s Dartry Ceili Band.
June was taught by both Carmel Gunning & Paddy Ryan. Michael & June first met at a Foróige event in UCD in 1989, where the organisation was celebrating 21 years of the Citizenship Award. Coincidentally they were both paired together (out of 60 young traditional musicians) to perform a duet at the event.
A member of the music group, Síona, that recorded the 1998 album, ‘Launching the Boat’, with Kevin Brehony (piano), Damien O’Brien (fiddle), Oliver Loughlin (piano accordion).
Tom Doorley
Is flúiteadóir traidisiúnta agus claisiceadh é Tom Doorley ó Bhaile Átha Cliath. Is ball é den ngrupa Danú agus is léachtóir é chomh maith.
Tom Doorley was born in Dublin and has been playing for many years in both Classical and Traditional music circles, in Ireland and abroad. In his younger years he received lessons from Vincent Broderick, Micheál Ó hAlmhain, Cormac Breathnach, the late Seamus MacMathuna and is heavily inspired by the music of Matt Molloy.
Tom was a member of the internationally acclaimed Irish traditional band Danú and performed professionally with them for fourteen years. Tom currently lectures and teaches on the Irish traditional music course in Technological University Dublin (TUD), and also holds the position of musical director of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland (NFOI).