About
I gcuideachta Néill agus Damian tá cuid de na ceoltóirí is fearr i gCúige Uladh, Liam Bradley ar na méarchláir, Ciarán Hanna ar na fideoga agus an consairtín, Rachel McGarrity ar an fhidil agus ag amhránaíocht, Chris McGlone ar an bhodhrán agus Kieron Leonard ar na drumaí.
Is as Contae Thír Eoghain ó dhúchas do Niall Hanna, agus phléasc sé isteach ar shaol an cheoil tíre i ndeireadh 2017 lena albam a fuair moladh ó léirmheastóirí, Autumn Winds, arna léiriú ag Dónal O'Connor. Tá Ciarán, arb as cladach an locha dó, i ndiaidh seinm ó shin ar ardáin ar fud na hEorpa, na hAstráile agus níos faide i gcéin, agus tá clú breá tuillte aige mar dhuine de na ceoltóirí óga traidisiúnta is fearr in Éirinn, agus Gradam Ceoil TG4 d'Amhránaí na Bliana tógtha aige ar feadh an bhealaigh. Ag tarraing ó oidhreacht láidir cheoil, ina bhfuil muintir Uí Annaidh agus Uí Néill, casann Niall idir amhráin thraidisiúnta agus amhráin nua, agus cuireann sé leo a stíl ar leith ag seinm an ghiotáir.
Ar a eisiúint nua, The Roving Journeyman, tá cúig amhrán nua a scríobh sé féin, taobh le sé amhrán thraidisiúnta. Taobh le cóirithe Néill ina bhfuil giotár téide níolóin chun tosaigh, cuirtear de mhaisiú ar na hamhráin ceol ó Chiarán Hanna, Rachel McGarrity agus Damian McKee. Is é a bhaile an spreagadh d'amhráin nuachumtha Néill, é ag tarraingt chomh maith ar an stair áitiúil agus scéalta na dúiche.
Is as Dún Láthaí faoin tuath i gContae Aontroma é Damian McKee, agus tá a shaol tugtha aige do sheinm agus do theagasc an cheoil Ghaelaigh. Tá saibhreas taithí aige ag seinm le Beoga le 22 bhliain anuas, agus fonn air ceol nua a chruthú, agus tá lúcháir ar Damian bailiúchán de bhunábhar, Moyola Cottage, a chur amach os comhair an tsaoil, agus sheinn sé é den chéad uair ag Féile Cheoil Thraidisiúnta Bhéal Feirste. Scríobhadh Moyola Cottage ón chroí agus tá d'inspioráid aige an baile, an teaghlach agus cuimhní. Ar na foinn air tá píosaí malla séiseacha, mairseálacha taghdacha agus, ar ndóigh, raidhse ríleanna, port agus polcaí, arna gcóiriú le treallús áirithe.
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Joining Niall and Damian are some of Ulster's finest musicians, Liam Bradley (keys), Ciaran Hanna (whistles/concertina), Rachel McGarrity (fiddle/vocals), Chris McGlone (bodhrán) and Kieron Leonard (percussion).
County Tyrone native Niall Hanna burst on to the folk scene in late 2017 with his critically acclaimed debut album 'Autumn Winds' produced by Dónal O'Connor. The Loughshore native has since performed on stages across Europe, Australia and beyond and has developed a fine reputation as one of Ireland's finest young traditional singers, picking up a TG4 Gradam Ceoil (Amhránaí na Bliana / Singer of the Year) award along the way. Drawing from a strong musical lineage which includes the Hanna & O'Neill families, Niall sings both traditional and original songs, complemented by his unique style of guitar playing.
His new release 'The Roving Journeyman' features five new self-penned songs, alongside six traditional songs. Alongside Niall's nylon string guitar-led arrangements, the songs are embellished with music from Ciaran Hanna, Rachel McGarrity and Damian McKee. Niall's newly composed songs are inspired by his home, also drawing on local history and stories of the land.
Hailing from Dunloy in rural Co. Antrim, Damian McKee has dedicated most of his life to playing and teaching Irish music. With a wealth of experience playing with Beoga for the past 22 years, and a desire to create new music, Damian is delighted to bring a collection of original material, Moyola Cottage, out into the world and performed for the first time at Belfast TradFest. Moyola Cottage is written from the heart and inspired by home, family and memories featuring tunes ranging from melodic slow pieces to moody marches and of course a plethora of reels, jigs and polkas, arranged with a bit of attitude.
