Anan
Anam’s music is continually evolving.  Although predominantly rooted in the Celtic traditions they have always sought to push the traditional boundaries forward while still respecting their rich musical heritage.  With Irish, Scottish and Cornish members in the group, there is a wealth of influence and tradition among them. 

Anúna
With voices and harmonies woven from the mouths of angels, Anúna may just be the most intriguing vocal group on the classical/pop scene today.

Arcady
A very proficient traditional group from Ireland, created by ace bodhran player Johnny ("Ringo") McDonagh when he left De Dannan; the band has been up and down, and has included Sharon Shannon, Frances Black, Tommy McCarthy and Sean Keane in its lineup. Their first album, After the Ball, was a big hit, but then nothing was heard for a long time until "Many Happy Returns" which has marked a sort of resurection of the band.

Begley & Cooney
This unlikely pairing of an Australian ex-rocker guitarist (Stephen Cooney) and Kerry accordion player (Seamus Begley) is now recognised as one of the top acts in Irish music, playing traditional dance music with a fire that is true to the tradition, and much appreciated by the dancers for whom the music exists.

Black, Frances
FRANCES BLACK's professional singing debut was in 1986, when she began performing with her three brothers and sister (Shay, Michael, Martin, Mary, Frances) as The Black Family, performing a mix of traditional and contemporary/traditional Irish music.

Black, Mary
A few years ago, a friend in Connecticut sent me a CD recording by an Irish woman singer she would soon be seeing/hearing. Coincidentally, I recognized the name as a musician John Jennings had mentioned as recording a cover of Mary Chapin Carpenter's wonderful song, Moon and St. Christopher - which had intrigued me, but I had not yet tracked down the recording of that particular song.

Bothy Band
The Bothies were possibly the greatest of new Irish traditional groups that arose in the seventies. Their fire and brilliance has long outlasted their three year history and the four albums they produced are prized possesions of many celtic music lovers.

Boys of the Lough
Boys of the Lough are one of the past masters of celtic music, combining members from several celtic traditions with a long history; where other celtic groups last a few years, the Boys are now in their third decade and retain two of their earliest members. Like that other long-running act the Chieftans, their music tends to the formal; impeccable technique and sensitivity, with large, sometimes classical-style arrangements, and very tight ensemble playing.

Burke, Kevin
Fiddler Kevin Burke is one of those names that just pops up everywhere, and with a lot of respect attached to it at that. From the seventies, with the legendary Bothy Band to the present, with his own Open House, has has always been one of the top musicians on the celtic scene.

Celtic Fiddle Festival
The Celtic Fiddle Festival is a group rather than an event, a combination of one of the best fiddlers from each of three celtic countries - Johnny Cunningham of Scotland, Kevin Burke of Ireland and Christian Lemaitre from Brittany. This grouping came together in 1992 for an American tour, which was recorded and issued as an album.

The Chieftains
Here is a Chieftains discography that I've put together from several sources, not all of which quite agree with one another! Please tell me of any additions or corrections. Thanks to Mark Fischer who supplied some of this listing, and to Jeff Doty and Craig Lawrence for other Chieftains-associated albums.

Chulrua
Chulrua combines 3 of the finest Irish traditional musicians touring today. Paddy O'Brien, Senior All-Ireland button accordion champion. Tim Britton, master of the uilleann pipes as well as wooden flute and tin whistle. Pat Egan, master guitar accompanist and singer from Tipperary. Their collective mastery of Irish music and song is unparalleled, providing a concert experience of the highest caliber.

Clannad
With haunting songs, mesmerizing vocals, and a captivating sound that blends elements of traditional Irish and contemporary music, CLANNAD continues to occupy a unique place in the modern musical world.

O'Connell, Robbie
O'Connell is a songwriter of vision, awareness and maturity. He has the ability to take an everyday experience or thought and turn it into an effective structured song. All his material is melodic and accessible and his keen sense of humour is never far from the surface.

Connolly, Rita
On the following pages, you will find details of Rita Connolly's essential recorded output and an article and interview, first published in The Living Tradition magazine in January 1995.

Cran
CRAN are a unique group in the Irish folk-music world with their own highly-individualistic approach and a bewildering array of styles and repertoire. Each member of the trio already had international reputations in their own fields before the band was formed.

De Dannan
De Dannan are one of the most famous traditional Irish groups of the recent past. Their often-changing membership has spun off solo careers for singers Maura O' Connell, Mary Black and Dolores Keane and has included such luminaries as Andy Irvine, Johnny Moynihan, Frankie Gavin. They are regarded by many as one of the great Irish folk groups of recent years, along with the likes of Planxty and the Bothy Band.

Dubliners
The Dubliners were one of the first groups to revive Irish traditional music and especially ballad music, in the sixties and are still going strong many years later, especially popular in Europe.

Fliying Toads, The
The Flying Toads have been playing together for 3 years and their extensive repertoire ranges from lively jigs and reels to well known singalong songs, or the occasional haunting ballad to make you cry into your Guinness! The band’s name originates from a spoonerism of the Irish hornpipe, "The Flowing Tide"! Keith and Val were formerly in the popular Sussex Irish band Cushleen, along with guitarist John Carroll, and have played together for 11 years. Dave is a well-known singer/songwriter in his own right.

Four Mens and a Dog
Four Men and a Dog burst on the scene at the Belfast Folk Festival in 1990, with a high-energy approach that combines furious traditional dance tunes with irreverent new music and inimitable covers.

Gunn, Douglas
Recorder Player, Composer, Arranger & Conductor...

Hayes, Martin
Martin Hayes was born in 1961 in Maghera, Co. Clare, into a musical family; his grandmother played concertina, his uncle Paddy Canny was national fiddle champion and his father is now celebrating a half century as fiddler and leader of the Tulla Ceili Band, probably the best known of Irish ceili bands and major stars of the dance band scene of the 50s and 60s.