A few of the new and old teachers this year in no particular order

Grainne Hambly

Gráinne Hambly from County Mayo is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp, and is in great demand as a performer and teacher, both at home and abroad. Gráinne completed a Masters Degree in Musicology, awarded by Queen’s University Belfast (1999). Her main research topic was folk music collections and the harp in 18th-century Ireland. She completed the Graduate Diploma in Education (Music) at the University of Limerick and also plays concertina.
Gráinne has been playing professionally as a solo musician for over 20 years, and has performed on various occasions in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Colombia, Israel, and Japan, as well as touring extensively in the United States, giving concerts, workshops and masterclasses. She has also toured and recorded with various artists, including the Belfast Harp Orchestra, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann and Irish Christmas In America.
She has attracted glowing praise for her live performances and recorded material, which brilliantly showcase what has been described as her ‘absolute mastery of the Irish harp’. Known for the sensitivity and expressive quality of her air-playing, as well as her dynamic performance of dance tunes, Gráinne’s playing illustrates the full range and scope of this instrument. She specialises in teaching Irish traditional music ‘by ear’ and teaches at various annual summer schools and harp festivals.
Gráinne has featured on a number of recordings both as guest artist and accompanist. She has released three critically acclaimed solo CDs, and two books of arrangements.  Her most recent collaboration is with Scottish harper William Jackson, with whom she released a duo recording and published some arrangements for harp ensemble.

Cillian Vallely

Mick O’Brien

Dublin born Mick O’Brien plays uilleann pipes, whistle and flute. Mick began his musical education on the Uilleann pipes in the renowned Thomas Street Pipers Club in Dublin. His father Dinny O`Brien, a traditional “box” player, was also a constant source of tunes and inspiration. Mick recorded his first LP with his family when he was 13 years old. He later joined Na Piobairi Uilleann, an organisation founded to promote piping, where he absorbed hundreds of tunes and refined his technique.

He performs regularly as a solo artist, with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and with the Norwegian groups Vamp, Hanne Krogh, and Secret Garden. His playing can be heard on numerous recordings with artists such as The Dubliners, Frankie Gavin and the RTE Concert Orchestra. Mick has toured extensively and given master classes throughout Europe and North America. His first solo album ‘The May Morning Dew’ (1996) was received with great critical acclaim. ‘Kitty Lie Over’, Mick’s duet recording with Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, is widely regarded as one of the finest recordings of traditional music in recent years, as is the follow up album ‘Deadly Buzz’

John Skelton

London-born flute and whistle player John Skelton is probably best known to American audiences from his work with The House Band, with whom he recorded eight albums on the Green Linnet label. He has also released a solo album, One At a Time, and Double Barrelled, a highly regarded album of flute duets with Kieran O’Hare, as well as a series of tune collection books, A Few Tunes, A Few More Tunes, Yet More Tunes and Some Breton Tunes. John has performed at most of the major folk festivals in North America, Europe and Australia. He is an experienced teacher, and has taught at summer schools in the United States, Europe and Africa, In addition to his background in Irish music, John is also well-schooled in the music of Brittany. He visits there regularly, and is a highly-regarded player of the Breton bombarde, a double-reed folk shawm. NPR’s Thistle and Shamrock described him as “the finest bombarde player outside of Brittany.” He also plays the ‘Piston’ (Low Bombarde), the ‘Veuze’ (the bagpipe of eastern Brittany) and the ‘Gaita Gallega’ (Galician pipes).

Kieran O’Hare

Kieran O’Hare is a highly respected and sought-after performer of Irish traditional music on the uilleann pipes, concert flute, and tin whistle. In 1994, Kieran received the honor of being the first American-born player of Irish music invited to perform in the annual ‘Ace and Deuce of Piping’ concert, held in Ireland’s National Concert Hall. Since then, he has made countless

appearances at festivals and concerts in North and South America, Japan, China, and Europe. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2010 as a soloist with the New York Pops Orchestra and most recently, with Liz Knowles, Kieran toured the world for over four years as musical director, contractor, and performer with the France-based show Celtic Legends. Kieran serves on the Board of Directors of Na Píobairí Uilleann in Dublin, Ireland, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of uilleann piping worldwide.

Liz Knowles - Fiddle

The inimitable Liz Knowles will be teaching fiddle at this year’s Tionol. Don’t miss your chance to learn from one of the best! 

Liz Knowles has brought her distinctive sound—the fire and finesse of Irish fiddle music combined with the tonal richness of the classical violin—to concert stages and festivals across the world. Her auspicious beginnings as the fiddler for Riverdance and as soloist on the soundtrack for the film Michael Collins established her as a virtuosic and versatile performer, and she has since performed as soloist with such orchestras as the New York Pops, she was a member of the renowned Cherish the Ladies, played on Broadway with The Pirate Queen, traveled the world for over four years as Music Director and performer with Celtic Legends and, today she performs with another all-star female super-group, the highly acclaimed String Sisters, and the newly formed Martin Hayes Quartet.
www.lizknowles.com

Pat Broaders - ballads

Pat Broaders will be leading a ballads workshop this year. Whether you are a seasoned folk singer or a new to the tradition, build your repertoire this coming April with Pat!

Pat Broaders grew up in Dublin, the son of parents from Wexford. He began his journey in traditional music at the age of eight. He started out on the whistle, and later moved on to the uilleann pipes under the tutelage of Leon Rowsome. He took up the bouzouki in 1988, inspired by the sounds he grew up hearing from bands like Planxty, and the popularity of the instrument in Dublin’s vibrant traditional music scene. Pat’s singing began naturally enough. His father was a singer, and having grown up around Dublin’s singing tradition, it was a natural step for him. Pat’s repertoire today reflects his interest in the great songs of the Irish tradition as well as songs and ballads from the English and Scottish traditions.

Pádraig Rynne

Described as “one of the freshest sounds in Irish music” by fRoots magazine, Pádraig Rynne is a virtuoso musician, prolific composer and is regarded as one of the finest concertina players in Irish music today. With an MA in Music technology and a passion for experimenting with diverse genres, Padraig is recognised for his refreshing explorations into the Irish Tradition and beyond.

Rynne formed the Irish instrumental group NOTIFY in 2013 and has gone on to perform at some of the worlds best folk, world and jazz festivals. Pádraig has featured on over thirty albums and has made many high profile TV appearances. He has performed with many well-known musicians across a variety genres including multi Grammy award winners Mark Lettieri and Jason Thomas (Snarky Puppy) and American Pop sensation Michelle Chamuel.

Tara Breen

Tara Breen, a highly talented multi-instrumentalist from County Clare, started playing the flute at the tender age of six. A performer with the legendary Stockton’s Wing, and regular touring member of The Chieftains, Tara has won almost every All-Ireland title there is to win on fiddle, including the All-Ireland Senior Fiddle Title, the Fiddler of Dooney competition, the Michael Coleman Fiddle Competition and the Senior Oireachtas fiddle title. Such is Tara’s complete mastery of the fiddle, she was chosen to play for the Queen of England at Dublin Castle during her State visit to Ireland. Tara’s obvious virtuosity doesn’t stop at fiddle, as she also holds All-Ireland titles for flute and saxophone.

Jim Murray

Jim Murray has been touring the world full time as a professional musician since the age of eighteen. Jim is considered Sharon Shannon’s “right hand man” having recorded and toured with her over five continents.  He also released two critically acclaimed albums with long term partner Seamus Begley in 2001 and 2008 which collectively scooped many prestigious awards such as The Irish Times and Hot Press Traditional Irish Music Album of the Year. Since Jim’s arrival on the world stage, he has gained the respect of both national and international musicians and has performed and recorded with artists such as Sinead O’Connor, Steve Earl, Shane McGowan, Altan and Mary Black to mention but a few.

Pádraic Keane

Uilleann piper Pádraic Keane hails from Maree, Co. Galway and was born into a great musical family. He is a tutor at many music festivals in Ireland and abroad. In 2011 he was awarded TG4 Young Musician of the Year. He has toured America as a soloist with The Irish Chamber Orchestra and has collaborated with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, The RTE Concert and Symphony Orchestras as well as various string quartets. He has also toured Europe with Ragús and worked with Galway's Irish language theatre group - An Taibhdhearc. He has featured on a number of albums including "The Rolling Wave" - a CD of young pipers issued by Na Píobairí Uilleann, "Tunes in the Church" and "Rogha Raelach" issued by Raelach Records. He has also performed at The Masters of Tradition festival held in Bantry House and curated by Martin Hayes. He recently released his highly anticipated debut solo album entitled, "In Full Tune" as well as two successful collaborative albums: "Beo" with Macdara Ó Faoláin and Páraic Mac Donnchadha and another with the group "Keane Connolly McGorman"

Cait Finley

Born in Philadelphia to a family with roots in Renvyle, Connemara, Cait Finley learned much of her music from the great traditional players in the area, including box player Kevin McGillian and flute player Paddy O’Neill. Caitlin’s playing is greatly influenced by the music of the Sligo fiddlers who recorded in New York in the 1920s and 30s, including James Morrison, Paddy Killoran, and Michael Coleman. As a teenager, she studied fiddle with Rose Flanagan and Brian Conway, which situated her firmly within the New York Sligo tradition. Caitlin has performed throughout the East Coast, including frequent performances alongside Mick Moloney’s Green Fields of America; recently, she appeared at Boston’s Patsy Touhey Weekend, and presented alongside her duet partner Will Woodson at the Ward Irish Music Archives “Archiving Irish America” conference. Since leaving Philadelphia, Caitlin has lived in New York and Boston, where she played an active part in both cities’ superb traditional music scenes. She now lives in Portland, Maine.

Will Woodson

An East Coast native, Will Woodson lived in Glasgow, Scotland and New York City before moving to Portland, Maine, where he’s grown to become a stalwart of the thriving Irish traditional music scene around New England. On the flute, he’s heavily influenced by the music of the older generations of North Connacht flute players, particularly those who recorded in America in the 1920s and 30s; on the pipes, he’s inspired by the Irish-American tradition of pipers such as Patsy Touhey, Michael Carney, Bernard Delaney, and Michael Gallagher. Will performs extensively with his duet partner, fiddler Cait Finley. The two released an album, "The Glory Reel", accompanied by Chris "Junior" Stevens in 2019. Over the course of the pandemic, Will and Caitlin produced a regular online video series, “The Phonograph Project”, featuring music drawn from Irish musicians recorded in America in the 1920s and 30s.  Will has taught and performed at a number of music festivals and summer schools in North America, including the Boxwood Festival, the Patsy Touhey Weekend, and recently presented alongside Cait at the Ward Irish Music Archives “Archiving Irish America” conference. When he’s not performing and teaching, Will keeps busy as a maker of uilleann pipes.

Robert Ryan

Robert Ryan is a traditional Irish fiddler from London, who grew up immersed in the thriving Irish musical community of that city. Robert was encouraged to learn the tin whistle from a young age, and took up the fiddle at the age of eight, learning from the great Clare fiddler Brendan Mulkere. Over the years he developed a strong interest in the music of the Sliabh Luachra region of Ireland, and he has a deep love of the dance music associated with that area. He has recently moved to St. Louis, where he performs and teaches Irish music, and is particularly interested in sharing his passion for the music of Sliabh Luachra.

Frank Claudy

Frank was taught the basics of tin whistle playing at his Washington, D.C.  elementary school, on a side-blown Melody Flute made in Laurel, MD.   His father had played jazz saxophone in the Bix era before taking up classical clarinet, and he had a few whistles and an old wooden flute at the house.  Though aware of his mother's remote Irish heritage through the Malone family, he didn't take up serious traditional music on the instrument until he heard Cathal McConnell with the Boys of the Lough at the Smithsonian Folk Festival in 1973.  He started on a Clarke, later Generations, and now 50 years later has an embarrassingly large collection of new and vintage whistles.   He has played at festivals all over the US and in Ireland, and taught whistle at the Catskills Irish Arts Week for a number of years.  These days, he spends a lot of time uploading videos to his YouTube channel.  He has also composed about 40 tunes, a few of which have caught on.

Chris Weddle