Tutors - Meitheal Summer School -

Cora Smyth - Fiddle
Cora is a member of the musical smyth family from Co. Mayo. She has toured, performed and recorded with many shows, orchestras and bands over the years including "Lord of the dance" and the Chieftains. She has two albums- one with her sister Breda (2005) and a solo album called "Are We There Yet ?" (2008) which includes many of her own compositions. She is currently recording her new album. Visit her web site : www.corasmyth.com

Brian Finnegan - Flute
Brian Finnegan, from Armagh, is widely regarded as one of the true pioneers in Irish music. Front man with the legendary Flook for over 13 years. The band were crowned BBC Band Of The Year 2006.
Brian's music is forged from both his native tradition and from his love of a wider musical tapestry. His traveling and touring in India and Eastern Europe had a deep and profound affect on his talent as a composer. In 2008 he was commissioned by The Sage Centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne to compose a piece for the opening of 'The Eighth Bridge', a major art installation across the river Tyne. Brian's new album, 'The Ravishing Genius Of Bones' was released in January 2010.

Karen Tweed - Piano Accordion
Karen Tweed is the award-winning British piano-accordion queen, renowned for ensemble work with the likes of Kathryn Tickell, The Poozies and May Monday; and as the architect of adventurous musical projects and collaborations including the 4K Plot and Circa Compania. She's an influential force on the UK music scene and as a highly regarded composer, teacher and mentor she is an inspiration to the next generation.
Visit her web site : www.karentweed.com

Oisín MacDiarmada - Fiddle
Described by The Irish Echo's Earle Hitchner as "one of the most gifted and creative traditional fiddlers playing today", Oisín founded noted internationally-touring group Téada in 2001. Performing throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East in recent years, solo performances have included guest appearances with the Southern Georgia Symphony Orchestra in the US. Closer to home, Oisín remains very active in workshop teaching and in the adjudication of traditional music, in between performing activity.

Michelle Mulcahy - Harp
Michelle is one of Ireland's most talented and gifted multi-instrumentalists. She is considered to be one of Ireland's most adroit and creative harpers and was awarded the prestigious TG4 Young Musician of the Year in 2006. She is a regular performer and tutor at many festivals worldwide. She features on three highly acclaimed albums along with her father Mick and sister Louise. Michelle has recently recorded with Bill Whelan and the Irish Chamber Orchestra on his highly acclaimed Connemara suite album.

Kieran Munnelly - Flute
Kieran Munnelly is one of the brightest young musicians to grace the traditional music scene in a number of years.
He is a full time member of the Dave Munnelly band and has toured extensively in America and Europe.
Kieran has a 1st class hons Masters of the Arts from University of Limerick.

Luke Daniels - Box
Luke is a contemporary composer and a virtuoso button accordionist. Since winning the BBC Young Tradition Award back in 1992 he has worked with the Riverdance Show, De Dannan, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, The English National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden. His educational projects for young people are run through his charity Gael Music and supported by Arts Council England, Youth Music and The Performing Rights Society Foundation whilst solo projects include Histories Rhyme, Lost Music of the Gaels and Islands with performances in the Royal Festival Hall.

Dessie Kelliher - Banjo
Dessie began to play banjo in September at the age of 11 and since then, his virtuosic banjo playing has brought him onto the world stage with countless shows and groups, in 2004 he recorded his debut album 'Banjoed' which has been tremendously successful. Dessie continues to tour and perform in Ireland and abroad.

Jack Talty - Concertina
Jack, an student at the inaugural Meitheal Summer School in 2004 is from Lisseycasey in Co. Clare. Still in his early twenties, Jack has a wealth of experience as a teacher of concertina and piano, having taught at most traditional workshops and festivals around the country. A multi award-winning music graduate of University College Cork, Jack has performecd throughout Europe, the U.S. and Australia.

Tom Doorley - Orchestra
Tom was born and reared in Dublin. He began studying irish traditional flute at the age of 14 with Vincent Broderick. In the mid 1990's he completed a degree in music performance in Trinity College and the Dublin Institute of technology where he studied flute with William Halpin. He also studied in Europe and America with Julius Baker, Marzio Conti and James Galway. He is a member of the group ' Danú' and has recorded and toured with the band for the best part of 12 years. Now currently residing in Dublin he lectures on the DIT Irish music performance course and is choral director of Cór Clasach.

Tara Breen - Fiddle
Virtuosic fiddler from Co. Clare, Tara Breen also plays sax and flute.
Occasional member of Kilfenora, she is also in Donal Lunny's group CIRRUS
which was the subject of TG4's recent series Lorg Lunny. Tara won fiddler
of Dooney in 2007. When not touring, she's a BA.Mus student at UCC.

Please note : Tutors are subject to change. Meitheal does not guarantee the services of any specific tutor.