A unique opportunity for adults and children to take part in workshop with two of Ireland’s finest musicians!
Steve Cooney is best known for his development of an influential style of guitar accompaniment to traditional Irish dance music which he developed in West Kerry, and for which he won the National Entertainment Award with Séamus Begley in 1997.
Born in Melbourne Australia in 1953, he came to Ireland in 1980 and maintains his connections with the Aboriginal culture there, into which he was initiated. He has ancestral links with Tipperary, Cavan and Galway.
He has participated in making more than 250 CD's, either as a guitar or bass player or as producer and engineer. Also a poet and songwriter, he has worked with many iconic international artists in rock and country music but his primary focus is Irish traditional music, and fusions of that genre.
He recently released a CD of solo guitar interpretations of ancient harp tunes, Ceol Ársa Cláirsí: Tunes of the Irish Harpers for Solo Guitar. He is also recording fusion music with his band Éiníní.
He completed a Ph.D. in 2018 at NCAD on an intuitive musical notation system that he developed for early learners and those who experience difficulties with staff notation, and he lectures in tertiary institutions on the calculation of harmony and syncopation.
In 2020 he was given the RTÉ Folk Awards 'Lifetime Achievement' Award.
He is currently preparing the release of the CD 'Rhapsody and Rascality' with his band Éininí.
Dermot Byrne hails from the Inishowen peninsula of Co. Donegal, the most northerly part of Ireland, and has played accordion from the early age of four. He learned from his father Tomás O’Beirn from Teileann in South West Donegal who is an enthusiastic promoter of the tradition. Dermot at the age of only seven had already achieved an All Ireland Title at the Buncrana Fleadh Cheoil in the under eleven category for button accordion in 1976.
Dermot also had the good fortune of spending quality time to learn from Donegal fiddle players such as Johnny Doherty, Con Cassidy, James Byrne, Francie and Mickey Dearg O’Beirn, Danny O’Donnell, Tommy Peoples, Danny Meehan, Brid Harper, Ciaran Tourish and Maiaread Ni Mhaonaigh, Liz Doherty, Francie Mooney, The Campbell’s and Dinny McLaughlin.
Outside of traditional music, Dermot has also recorded and performed with artists such as Dolly Parton, John Prine, Stephane Grappelli, Vince Gill, Phill Coulter, The Stunning, Salsa Celtica, Brendan Quinn, Frankie Lane, Mary Black, Tim O’Brien, Alison Krauss and Paul Brady.
Over his many years of playing, Dermot developed a unique style. His seemingly effortless playing combined with great subtlety and a faultless ear makes him one of the great accordion players of his generation. As well as his mastery of the Donegal style and repertoire, Dermot can turn with ease to other styles and traditions such as French musette or South American music. In 2013, Dermot received the prestigious TG4 award for musician of the year.
He guested on two Altan recordings “The Red Crow” and “Island Angel” before joining the band in 1994. Dermot has also guested on collaborations with many great musicians including Buttons and Bows, Sharon Shannon, Salsa Celtica, Steve Cooney, Dezi Donelly, Brid Harper, Frankie Gavin, Tommy Peoples, Pierre Schryer, Tim O’Brien and the late jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli.
Dermot recorded his first self-titled CD in 1994 where he was joined by Steve Cooney, Trever Hutchinson and Donal Lunny. In 2004, he recorded a duet recording with Canadian fiddle maestro Pierre Schryer (2 Worlds United). His most recent recording is with French harpist Floriane Blancke (Dermot Byrne and Floriane Blancke). His most recent recordings are with Yvonne Casey (As We Feel It) and with Steve Cooney (The Donegal Melodeon).