Albain meets Éire for trad tour
Some of the leading figures from the worlds of Irish and Scottish traditional music are in Cork this weekend as part of an unmissable national tour.
Over the coming week, Music Network will continue its 40th anniversary celebrations with a remarkable pairing of Irish trad outfit, the Máirtín O’Connor Trio, and Scottish Gaelic singer, Kathleen MacInnes.
As part of their tour, they will be performing at Briery Gap in Macroom, tomorrow (Friday) evening from 8pm, and at the Baltimore Fiddle Fair in Baltimore, on Saturday from 8.30pm.
Kathleen MacInnes is one of Scotland’s most compelling traditional singers. Raised in a Gaelic-speaking community on South Uist and immersed in Gaelic language and song from an early age, MacInnes has earned widespread acclaim for the authenticity and emotional depth of her singing. Her celebrated album ‘Cille Bhrìde’ received a Best Album award at the Scots Trad Music Awards, and her work has reached global audiences through performances at Celtic Connections, appearances on Transatlantic Sessions, and contributions to film soundtracks including Ridley Scott’s ‘Robin Hood’.
On the Irish side, the Máirtín O’Connor Trio has long been celebrated for its boundary pushing approach to Irish music. At its centre is accordion maestro Máirtín O’Connor, whose career spans decades at the forefront of the tradition. A former member of De Danann and a soloist with the original Riverdance orchestra, O’Connor is widely regarded not only as a master performer but as a composer and arranger whose work has helped shape contemporary Irish traditional music. His acclaimed body of work includes ‘The Connachtman’s Rambles’, ‘Perpetual Motion’ and a series of innovative recordings of original compositions, while collaborations with artists such as The Chieftains, Christy Moore, Elvis Costello, and Mark Knopfler underline his far-reaching influence.
He is joined by Cathal Hayden, one of the most respected figures in Irish traditional music, known for his exceptional command of both fiddle and banjo. A founding member of Four Men and a Dog, Hayden has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the genre over several decades, performing and recording with artists including Christy Moore and Donal Lunny, and earning international recognition for his distinctive, driving style.
Across the tour, the trio is completed by two outstanding musicians who will appear on selected dates. Séamie O’Dowd, a highly regarded multi-instrumentalist and former member of Dervish; and Patrick Doocey, one of the most in-demand accompanists in Irish music today, recognised for his nuanced and dynamic playing.Together these artists will explore the rich musical connections between Ireland and Scotland, moving seamlessly between instrumental virtuosity and song, and creating a dynamic live experience that honours tradition while embracing new possibilities.