Tara Connaghan and Ronan Galvin have been playing music together for many years. Both are strongly connected with the southwest Donegal fiddle style and repertoire and both teach at the annual Glencolmcille Fiddle School run by Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí.
Tara Connaghan is a fiddle player from Glenties, Co. Donegal, in the North West of Ireland, whose principle influences are Vincent and Jimmy Campbell, Danny Meehan, the late James Byrne and the older generation of fiddle players in the area, including the distinguished recordings of travelling fiddle maestro John Doherty.
Along with fellow Donegal fiddler, Derek McGinley, she released a well-received recording, The Far Side of the Glen, focusing on the fiddle style and repertoire specific of the southwest Donegal region, grant aided by the Arts Council (Ireland).
‘This is not the “flashy” playing so often heard today; each note is given its chance to express itself properly – the music talks to you, as it should. No excessive speed, no attempts at fusion with other styles, just good, honest Donegal fiddling as we used to hear it years ago…’
John Waltham, The Living Tradition Magazine, UK
She has made a number of guest appearances on CDs including Dr. Liz Doherty & Fiddlesticks (2000), Leonard Barry Mind the Pipes (2002) and Eoin O’Neill In Session (2003). She also presented a TG4 Geantraí programme from Carlow in 2010 featuring musicians from the south east of Ireland.
She currently lives in Dublin where she is learning to make the Irish uilleann pipes with Na Píobairí Uilleann.
Rónán Galvin is a fiddle player, born in Dublin but closely connected with the Donegal tradition of fiddle playing through his parents, both of whom are from southwest Donegal. He teaches annually at the Glencolmcille Fiddle School as well as at various workshops throughout the year.
Rónán is also closely connected with the National Folklore Collection, was awarded an MA in Irish Folklore and is involved in various projects at the Collection including ‘Captured by Song’, Images from the song collector, Tom Munnelly. Rónán is currently treasurer of the Folklore of Ireland Society.
1pm Sunday 27th October 2013 @ London Irish Centre – £10