Maeve Donnelly, Charlie Harris, Éamonn and Geraldine Cotter

Maeve Donnelly, now living in Co Clare, grew up in East Galway, an area steeped in traditional music. Maeve is highly respected and much sought after as a fiddle teacher at Festivals across Ireland and further afield. She started playing fiddle at the age of six and won her first All-Ireland Fiddle Competition at the age of nine. She has toured extensively and was a member of Moving Cloud. In 2004, Maeve recorded a duet album with Peadar O’Loughlin entitled The Thing Itself. In more recent years, she has released two solo albums. Her latest album, Flame on the Banks was recorded with guitarist Tony McManus. 

Charlie Harris is an accordion player, originally from Kilmallock area of Co. Limerick. In 1974 he moved to London where he met and was influenced by brothers Oliver and Raymond Roland, both had been heavily influenced by the expressively charismatic Joe Cooley. Charlie returned to his ‘musical home’ of Co. Galway in 

1981, here he earned a nationwide reputation for his tuning and repairs of accordions. He toured and recorded several albums with the band Shaskeen. Charlie was awarded the prestigious TG4 Gradam Ceoil Traditional Musician of the Year Award in 2009. Charlie is a long time member of the Tulla Céilí Band and a regular visitor to London with Sliabh Aughty.

Ėamonn Cotter, originally from Ennis but living in Kilmaley in Co. Clare for over 25 years, is a well-known and respected flute player, teacher and flute maker. Ėamonn is a member of Shaskeen. He has recorded on many albums including his most recent solo CD, The Knotted Chord. As well as traditional music, he also has a keen interest in Western Art music and jazz. He is a member of the Limerick Jazz Workshop. 

Geraldine Cotter, Ėamonn’s sister, is a well-known teacher, researcher and performer iron both the tin whistle and piano. She has published three best-selling tutors for tin whistle and piano, the most recent one Rogha, is a tune book with accompanying play-a-long CD. She has recorded on over 20 CDs including her second solo album, Ré Órga which was released in 2024. In 2017 she was honoured with a MÓRglór award for her contribution to traditional music in County Clare. 

All four musicians have been featured on many radio and television programmes, including TG4 Gradam Cheoil 2009, on the occasion of the presentation of Charlie’s Gradam award.