A few of the new and old teachers this year in no particular order
Eimear Arkins
Eimear Arkins is an award winning musician and singer from County Clare. She has toured throughout the US, Ireland and beyond with acclaimed bands like Cherish The Ladies, Téada, and Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas. She is regularly seen performing with harp player and St Louis native, Eileen Gannon and guitar/bouzouki player and singer David McKindley-Ward. Eimear has also toured extensively with the international music organization Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann on concert tours throughout Ireland, Britain, North America and Canada . Eimear is a qualified Irish music and dance instructor and has performed and given workshops at festivals all over the world including Féile Séamus Creagh, Newfoundland; Catskills Irish Arts Week; Viljandi Pärimusmuusika Festival, Estonia; St Louis Tionól; Canadian Celtic Celebration, and Festival Interceltique de Lorient, France. In June 2018 she released her debut album, What’s Next? and was awarded “Best Newcomer” from LiveIreland in 2019. Eimear released her second album, Here & There, in 2024 featuring collaborations with David McKindley Ward, Eileen Gannon, Alan Murray and Kevin Buckley. She was named one of The Irish Echo’s top 40 under 40 honorees in 2025 and was awarded ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ from Ireland Tonight. Eimear and Eileen Gannon recently released their duet album The Belles of St. Louis.
www.eimeararkins.com
www.facebook.com/eimeararkinsmusic
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’.
Maeve Donnelly
Maeve Donnelly is an internationally acclaimed Irish fiddle player hailing from East Galway. Maeve started learning the fiddle from a young age, and grew up immersed in the region’s rich musical heritage, influenced by the playing of Paddy Fahy and Paddy Kelly.
Maeve won the prestigious All-Ireland Fiddle Championship when she was only 9 years old. Her early success and passion for Irish music led her to collaborate with many of Ireland’s finest musicians, shaping her expressive tone and intricate playing style.
Maeve has recorded several critically acclaimed studio recordings, including her solo album Maeve Donnelly, The Flame on the Banks with Tony McManus, The Thing Itself, with Peadar O’Loughlin and Geraldine Cotter.
Maeve is highly respected and sought after as a teacher. She has taught workshops and masterclasses worldwide, including the Willie Clancy Summer School, Catskills Irish Arts Week, Swannanoa Gathering and Scoil Acla.
Aisling Lyons
Aisling Lyons, multi-award winning musician and composer from County Clare has been described as one of traditional music’s finest musicians by Hot Press magazine, and the finest Irish harper at work today by Songlines magazine after the release of her debut album Aistear.
She is the holder of 8 All-Ireland titles and has performed all around the world, from Europe to the US, Australia and China – and has worked with many different groups and bands, as well as solo artists, poets and dancers.
Clare Friel
In 2018, Clare was announced as the recipient of TG4 Gradam Ceoil Ceoiltóir Óg/Young Musician of the Year. Clare was awarded this great honour playing solo and along with Anna, Sheila and Cathal on TG4 as part of the live awards show to an amazing audience including Irish President Michael D. Higgins. On the night, she was given the award by the great Mairéad Ní Mhaoniagh. TG4 said “This talented young woman has emerged as one of the most exciting young traditional musicians on the scene today”.
Clare, along with her sisters, Sheila and Anna are traditional musicians from Doire na Mainséar, Donegal in the North West of Ireland. Being siblings, they achieve a close blend on fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes interspersed with songs sang in unison, many from their family and local repertoire. Born in Glasgow, the girls credit their main musical development to frequent trips to Ireland to partake in workshops across the country, many of which they can now be found as tutors.
Since the launch of their debut album, they have performed in various venues and festivals across Europe, America and Asia and have appeared as guests on stage or toured with acts such as Altan, The Chieftains, Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon and Cherish the Ladies. In 2016, the girls performed at Festival Interceltique de Lorient, and won the prestigious Trophée Loïc Raison and in 2018, the girls released their second album ‘Before the Sun’ featuring Hajime Takahashi on guitar and Cathal Ó Curráin on bouzouki.
Sheila Friel
Sheila, along with her sisters, Clare and Anna are traditional musicians from Doire na Mainséar, Donegal in the North West of Ireland. Being siblings, they achieve a close blend on fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes interspersed with songs sang in unison, many from their family and local repertoire. Born in Glasgow, the girls credit their main musical development to frequent trips to Ireland to partake in workshops across the country, many of which they can now be found as tutors.
Since the launch of their debut album, they have performed in various venues and festivals across Europe, America and Asia and have appeared as guests on stage or toured with acts such as Altan, The Chieftains, Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon and Cherish the Ladies. In 2016, the girls performed at Festival Interceltique de Lorient, and won the prestigious Trophée Loïc Raison and in 2018, the girls released their second album ‘Before the Sun’ featuring Hajime Takahashi on guitar and Cathal Ó Curráin on bouzouki.
Liz Knowles
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
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 has served on the Board of Directors of Na Píobairí Uilleann in Dublin, Ireland, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of uilleann piping worldwide.
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).
Pat Broaders
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.
Brenda Castles
Brenda Castles is from Co. Meath and learned concertina from Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh. She has two solo albums of Irish music on concertina and performed regularly with Mick Moloney’s Green Fields of America collective. She has several All Ireland Fleadh titles to her name both in solo and group competitions and was a finalist in the Young Traditional Musician of the Year award (sponsored by IMRO and Irish national broadcaster, RTÉ).
She has recently performed solo concerts for the Consairtín festival in Ennis, Temple Bar TradFest, Meath Beo and the Pipers Club. Brenda has created and produced a short film called ‘Plight of the Bumble Bee’ for which she composed a traditionally inspired soundtrack.
Brenda is currently based between Dublin and New York, where she regularly performs and teaches music. She released her debut solo album, ‘Indeedin You Needn’t Bother’ in December of 2016. She teaches classes around the world and in 2020 she’ll be teaching at Irish music festivals and arts events across America. She’s been a performer in two Celtic Sojourn productions in the Boston area and she joined the Green Fields of America collective for concerts throughout 2016-2020.
Shane Mulchrone
Shane Mulchrone hails from near Ballina, in county Mayo. He has been playing the banjo for over 20 years and he cites John Carty and Tommy Finn as early influences on his music. In addition, Shane’s music has also been shaped by local musicians in Mayo and Sligo. Shane has taught at numerous summer schools and workshops nationally, and internationally, and he plays regularly at sessions and festivals around the country.
Colleen Shanks
Colleen Shanks is an uilleann piper and flute player currently based in Co. Clare, Ireland. Originally from Michigan, she has played with The Nashville Celts, Bill Grogran's Goat, and Big Fun and is a regular performer at the annual Crossroads Ceilí show at The Ark, Ann Arbor. It was after receiving a cassette of The Chieftains as a gift for her 10th birthday that Colleen first found herself captivated by the sound of traditional Irish music. With an avid desire to learn and play what she heard, she acquired a tin whistle and began teaching herself the tunes from the cassette. Through the local Detroit Comhaltas branch, she got her start on the uilleann pipes, tutored by Dublin piper Al Purcell. After moving to Ireland, she attended the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy, where she earned a Master's degree in Irish Traditional Music Performance while honing her piping with the likes of Michael 'Blackie' O'Connell and Mickey Dunne.
Fiachra O’Regan
Fiachra is from Roundstone, Connemara, in the West of Ireland. Starting at 11 on the tin whistle followed shortly after by the banjo. In ‘97, he had a chance to start on the pipes and with his first set from Eugene Lambe, he was hooked. Fiachra was very much influenced by the old South Connemara style and from an early age was privileged to hear sean-nós singers and music played for sets and sean-nós dancing unique to the area. Fiachr got great encouragement from the likes of Sean McKiernan, Tommy Keane, Padraig & Tommy Ceanabhain, Marcus Hernon & Johnny Connolly. He’s performed with The Chieftains, Sean Cannon from the Dubliner’s and Paddy Keenan. He has to his credit many prestigious titles including a Junior 1st place on the Uilleann Pipes in the Oireachtas competition, Senior All Ireland Champion on the Whistle Slow-Airs, Uilleann Pipes and Uilleann Pipes Slow-Airs.
Kevin Buckley
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, he started taking Irish fiddle lessons at the age of 9 and spent his subsequent teenage years performing and competing all over the US and Ireland, establishing himself as a valued proponent of Irish traditional music. During those same formative teenage years, his musical world expanded as he started playing more American styles of fiddle music, including bluegrass, old-time, and swing. The artist also spent a lot of time playing in garage rock bands and soon took an interest in songwriting, influenced by his folk background and the classic rock radio that pervaded his midwest upbringing.
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.
Joey Abarta
Joey Abarta has spent the last sixteen years touring North America, Europe, and Asia, teaching and performing music on the uilleann pipes, the irish bagpipe. A Los Angeles native, he first received instruction on the pipes from Dubliner Pat D’Arcy, a founding member of the Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club. His musical skills have been further honed by several visits to Ireland, a year-long stint working in Japan, and continuing relationships with master pipers. In August of 2009, Joey’s accomplished playing won him an All-Ireland championship, placing second worldwide at the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. In the fall of 2014 Joey became the first American uilleann piper to win first prize at the An tOireachtas, one of the biggest competitions for traditional music in the world. In 2015 Joey was honored to be a recipient of a traditional arts apprenticeship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council meaning he was awarded a grant to teach his art to the next generation.
Currently based in Boston, Joey divides his attention between performance, teaching, and recording. In addition to performing solo, he performs with Nathan Gourley of “Life is all Checkered” fame and had toured with Mick Moloney and the group The Green Fields of America; while at home, he organizes the meetings of the Boston Pipers Club, teaches for Comhaltas’ Boston Music School, and organizes various traditional music concerts and events.
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.