Sinead McKenna – Fiddle
One of seven siblings, multi-instrumentalist, and singer Sinéad McKenna from Augher, Co. Tyrone hails from a family steeped in Irish traditional music. Her music clearly signals her North Monaghan roots and draws its inspiration from her granduncles, fiddle players Pete and Pat McKenna. Echoes from master Ulster fiddle exponents Tommy Peoples and Ed Reavy resonate throughout this collection of fiery, raw traditional fiddle music and song.
Sinéad has performed extensively throughout Ireland, Europe, the USA, Dubai, and beyond. Recent highlights in her career include performing alongside a star-studded line-up of artists at the Tommy People’s Tribute Concert in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, at headline events at Belfast Tradfest and at The Pádraig O’Keefe festival.
As an established, young, up-and-coming artist, Sinéad has performed on various TV and radio platforms, including RTÉ, TG4 and on the landmark BBC documentary, “The Northern Fiddler.” She has multiple all-Ireland medals from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, and also won the prestigious Ed Reavy International Fiddle Competition in 2019.
Since moving to Belfast to study, Sinéad has built a strong following in the traditional music community there, collaborating with the Duncairn Collective, and regular performances on Belfast’s trad trail and Ceol na mBan at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich. In 2022, she was one of the inaugural recipients of The Belfast City Council’s Gradam Ceoil Bursary Award; this has given her the time and space to perform, collaborate, compose and record with highly respected musicians, resulting in her debut album.
Theresa Kavanagh – Fiddle
Hailing from Donegal, Theresa Kavanagh’s fiddle playing and composing has taken her across the globe. As well as her own solo performances and two albums to her name, Theresa is a member of the SíFiddlers and performs regularly with Diane Cannon and Manus Lunny. She has worked with top artists such as Dónal Lunny and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and has performed at Celtic Connections, Festival Interceltique and Ireland’s own Féile an Earagail. From her toe-tapping reels and jigs to her soulful airs, Theresa’s performances will transport you to another world.
Roisin McGrory – Fiddle
Roisin Mc Grory (nee Harrigan) is from Inishowen Co.Donegal. Growing up in Burnfoot, she was exposed to the rich culture and music of Inishowen and Donegal. With her brothers Paul Harrigan (piano accordion and uilleann pipes) and Damien Harrigan (fiddle) Roisin has performed and taught at festivals and events throughout Ireland, Europe and America.
Roisin teaches traditional music in Inishowen and Derry and is a co-funder of the Inishowen Traditional Music Project(ITMP) established in 1999. Influenced by the work of Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí, in Donegal, ITMP was set up to promote and preserve the music of Inishowen. The project holds annual events such as workshops, concerts, collaborations, exchange visits, recitals, talks and has produced two commercial recordings of Inishowen musicians Seamus Grant and Dinny Mc Laughlin.
In September 2016 Roisin released her debut album, ‘The Brae Road’ a collection of music with strong Inishowen and Donegal influences. Along with some new compositions the album is a collection of music drawn from musicians that have influenced Roisin’s playing over the years. The album features musicians Colm O’Caoimh(guitar), Paul Harrigan(accordion & viola), Melanie Houton(fiddle), Eimear Mc Colgan(fiddle), Clodagh Warnock(fiddle) and Joleen Mc Laughlin(harp) and her two daughters Deirdre McGrory(whistle) and Ella Mc Grory(piano).
Roisin has recently appeared at the Imbolc Festival in Derry and at Scoil Gheimhridh Ghaoth Dobhair where she also acted as a tutor.
Ella McGrory
Ella McGrory is a fiddle and piano player from Inishowen, Co. Donegal. She is a final year student at the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick studying a BA in Irish Music. Ella has extensive experience in performance, playing across Ireland, the UK and France and in recent years has played at festivals such as Electric Picnic and performed and taught workshops at Festival Interceltique de Lorient. In 2021, Ella and her sister Deirdre released an EP titled ‘Loinnir’ which featured guest musicians such as Steve Cooney and Liam Bradley. In 2015, she won the All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoil in Piano Accompaniment. She has been the Volunteer Coordinator at Galway International Arts Festival for the past two years. Ella has previously taught music at the Acadamh Ceoil in Derry and Ceolan School of Music in Moville, Co. Donegal. She is currently working at The University Concert Hall, Limerick and has completed internships at The Irish Traditional Music Archives in Dublin and The Playhouse Theatre in Derry. Ella continues to have huge involvement in the Inishowen Traditional Music Project, helping with event hosting, teaching ensemble workshops, performing at various events and helping run the social media pages.
Sarah Ponsonby – Fiddle – Trad Camp
Sarah is a fiddle and piano player from Letterkenny, Co.Donegal. She has a Bachelors Degree in music and recently graduated with a Distinction in a Masters of Research degree in Irish traditional music from Queen’s University Belfast. Coming from a musical family, Sarah has many years of experience in teaching, performing and gigging with musicians, ensembles and orchestras all over Ireland, Northern Ireland and Spain.
In 2020, Sarah and her father, guitarist Ted Ponsonby, released an album titled ‘Brakin’ Trad’ which featured guest musicians like Martin Crossin, Denise Boyle, Joe Murray and Liam Bradley. It is an album of predominantly original music deeply rooted in the Irish traditional style which were composed and arranged by Sarah and Ted.
As part of her final Masters project in 2021, Sarah also released a solo EP of original music which explored the influence of her Western classical training on her composition, arrangement and performance within the context of Irish traditional music. This EP was composed, arranged, performed, recorded and produced by Sarah and both the album and EP are available on all streaming platforms.