Saturday Afternoon: Concert
Please note that all advertised concert times are door opening times. Performances
will commence 30 minutes after doors open.
Ivy Suite, The Crown Hotel (Doors 2pm, Tickets £12.50/ £7 U18s)
- Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh
- Doireann Ní Glacháin, Brogan and Órlaith McAuliffe
- Aoife Ní Bhríain
Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh
Raised in a house full of music in Co.Meath, Caitlín Nic Gabhann learned most of her music from her father Antóin Mac Gabhann, a noted fiddler and fiddle teacher. Another great influence was Caitlín's concertina teacher, Meábh Ní Lochlainn. Caitlín’s mother Bernie is immersed in the Clare set-dancing culture and she passed a love of this on to her children.
Caitlín has performed with the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, Paddy Keenan, Liam Ó Maonlaí, for Presidents and Royalty around the world. She is also an accomplished dancer and has toured the world with Riverdance. Writing tunes since the age of ten, her compositions have been performed in the Cork Opera House and The National Concert Hall, Dublin. She teaches concertina annually at summer and winter schools
in Ireland, Europe and USA Her debut solo CD release, Caitlín was voted the 2012 “CD of the Year” award by tradconnect.com.
A former recipient of TG4 Young Musician of the Year, fiddle player Ciarán Ó Maonaigh hails from the Gaoth Dobhair gaeltacht in Co. Donegal. Growing up, he was heavily influenced by his extended family; his grandfather and teacher Francie Mooney, Altan members Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy, Derry fiddle player Dermot McLaughlin as well as the Donegal fiddle legend John Doherty
amongst others. Ciarán’s solo album ‘Ceol a’Ghleanna’ was released in 2004. He is also a member of the band Fidil along with Aidan O’Donnell and Damien McGeehan, and they have released 3 acclaimed albums. Ciarán’s music has been used in films, on television and on radio programmes including the award winning short film Noreen written by Domhnall Gleeson and starring Brendan Gleeson. Ciarán has worked as a production co-ordinator, researcher and presenter on numerous television series for TG4 and RTÉ television and radio.
This duet’s 2015 debut CD release”Caitlín & Ciarán” received a 4 star review in The Irish Times.
Doireann Ní Glacháin, Brogan and Órlaith McAuliffe
Doireann Ní Glacháin
Doireann Ní Ghlacáin is a fiddle player, sean nós singer, academic and broadcaster from Clontarf, Dublin. She learnt the fiddle at home, under the tutelage of her father, Kevin Glackin and inherited a love of the Irish language from her mother Sorcha Ní Riada of west Cork Gaeltacht, Cúil Aodha. In 2019 She released ‘The Housekeepers’ a duet album with concertina player, Sarah Flynn, shining the light on five remarkable female Irish musicians from the early 20 th century. She has been at the forefront of Irish language broadcasting in her work with TG4, and has toured the world with her fiddle playing in China, The Middle East, all over Europe and America. Doireann will be introducing RtLT Festival’s screening of TG4’s London edition of ‘Ceolaireacht’ at The Kiln Theatre on Monday 28 th October.
Órlaith and Brogan McAuliffe’s parents hail from Killarney, Co. Kerry, they were raised in a musical household in London. Both were taught the tin whistle at home, by their mother, Fidelma. At the age of nine, Órlaith took up the flute and at the age of ten Brogan took up the concertina under the tutelage of Maureen Linane. Órlaith and Brogan grew up attending numerous instrumental workshops at festivals, classes with Joe Searson, Maureen and Sinéad Linane. They were also surrounded by thriving Traditional Irish Music sessions in London.
Órlaith’s major influences on the flute include Olivia McTernan, Michael McGoldrick, Louise Mulcahy, Kevin Crawford, Peter Horan, Tom Doorley, Conal O’Grada, Aoife Granville, Paul McGlinchey and Matt Molloy. Órlaith has been an avid composer since the age of twelve, many of her tunes feature on her band CrossHarbour’s eponymous debut album (2014). She was awarded TG4’s Gradam Ceoil Ceoltoir Óg na Bliana for 2016 and has over twenty gold medals from the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoils under her belt.
Brogan’s main influences on the concertina include Micheál Ó Raghallaigh, Edel Fox, Timmy Collins and Kate McNamara. She holds 4 All-Ireland titles. Brogan has performed as a band member with ‘The London Lasses for over 10 years, recording two albums ‘The One I Loved the Best’ (2015) and ‘LL25’ (2022). Brogan has played at world class venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican Centre and
Trafalgar Square. Órlaith was a member of the All Ireland Award winning junior Auld Triangle Céilí Band; both she and Brogan currently play regularly with London’s popular Parish Céilí Band and have toured with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. They also both performed with the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, debuting Michael Rooney’s ‘Macalla 1916’. Both sisters are prominent musicians on the London session scene.
Aoife Ní Bhríain
Born in Dublin, to a family of musicians, Aoife Ní Bhríain has established herself as one of the most versatile musicians of her generation. Thanks to her musical heritage combined with her classical studies she has collaborated and performed with musicians such as pianist Eliso Virsaladze, fiddle player Martin Hayes, violinist Mariana Sirbu, Welsh harpist Catrin Finch, jazz guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel and Oscar winning actor Tim Robbins. She has been guest leader of a number of internationally renowned orchestras. Aoife is a member of the avant garde string quintet Wooden Elephant as well as the Goodman Trio with whom she has explored the manuscripts of the music collected around Ireland in the1800’s by Canon James Goodman.
Since 2021 Aoife has joined forces with Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and in October 2023 they released their debut album “Double You” to critical acclaim and in 2024 the album was shortlisted for Best Folk Album for her album with Catrin Finch in the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.
Her recent traditional music performances have included the improvisations of acclaimed Dublin fiddle player Tommie Potts on whom she has co-written a book.
Doireann Ní Ghlacáin does the Saturday afternoon concert and the Monday screening of RTÉ TG4’s “Ceolaireacht Londain”.
Caitlin does the Saturday afternoon concert, and the Sunday concertina workshop.
Ciaran does the Saturday afternoon concert, and the Sunday tutor led session.
