Oisín Morrison, Sárán Mulligan & Muirine Nic Róibín + very special guests

Oisín Morrison, originally from Dublin but now living in Cork, is a talented harper, flute player, piano player, and composer. He has an extensive background in teaching and performing at festivals both in Ireland and abroad, with numerous appearances on television and radio. Oisín has been recognized with various awards, including the prestigious Bonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada, the Oireachtas, and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Recently, he was honored with the 2020 Visionary scheme by Trad Ireland. During his time as a UCD Ad Astra Performing Arts scholar, he completed his Masters in Irish literature, specializing in the music and song of Turlough O’Carolan. Notable works include the composition of the ‘Clann Lir’ suite in 2016 and his appointment as composer in residence with Cork’s youth group, Ensemble Mhúscraí, where he crafted a suite of music inspired by the poetry of Seán Ó Ríordáin in 2020. Oisín’s next suite of music,which commemorates 50 years of Marley Park, will be performed in May 2025.

Sárán Mulligan is a concertina player from Dundalk, County Louth. Of particular interest to Sárán at the moment is composition. His writing is deeply rooted in the traditional Irish music idiom but takes influences from European folk music, contemporary and classical art music, and popular music. Sárán’s background is in mathematics and as such, numbers in music often provide a basis for his compositions.

Muirine Nic Róibín is a fiddle and clarinet player from Wicklow, based in Dublin. She has been playing since a young age – traditional Irish music on the fiddle and classical music on the clarinet. In more recent years she has been exploring the clarinet through the lens of traditional Irish music and has been involved in several projects including with concertina player, Sárán Mulligan, electronic artist, Lullahush, and multi-instrumentalist and composer, Oisín Morrison.

Macdara Ó Faoláin is a bouzouki player, fiddle player & singer from An Rinn, Co Waterford, renowned for his innovative approach to traditional Irish music. He is currently focused on composing solo bouzouki pieces that seamlessly blend his deep knowledge of harmony with his traditional roots, drawing inspiration from a wide array of genres. As a native Irish speaker, he is also writing new songs in Irish, contributing to both the preservation and evolution of the language through his music.

After years of building an impressive discography as an accompanist, Macdara released a solo EP titled Do Shamhlaigh Mé Tír Nua… in 2024, serving as a prelude to his debut album Ar Thaobh Chill an Fhuarthainn, launched in early January with a sold-out release show. Both releases were produced by composer and pianist Cormac McCarthy and showcase Macdara both as a solo musician and as a collaborator with McCarthy, Victoria Adiiye, Conor O’Sullivan, Áine Whelan and more. Do Shamlaigh Mé Tír Nua… was recently nominated for album of the year by Nós as well as Macdara being nominated for Best Folk Instrumentalist by the RTÉ Folk Awards. Named the Young Musician of the Year by TG4 in 2024, Macdara is solidifying his place as a significant figure in the world of traditional Irish music.

Victoria Adiiye was raised in Uganda, East Africa, where she first immersed herself in traditional Ugandan music and classical guitar. During this time, she developed a deep fascination with Irish music after discovering recordings from the genre, particularly captivated by the guitar playing of Dáithí Sproule. His intricate melodies and rhythms inspired her to learn and incorporate Irish guitar techniques into her own playing. As a child, she performed frequently at the National Concert Hall in Kampala with her sisters and the Kampala Symphony Orchestra, but it was through Irish music that she found her unique musical path. Later, she moved to Minnesota to attend university, where she met Dáithí Sproule, and their shared love for Irish music and guitar playing led to the formation of a musical duet.

Now based in Ireland, Victoria performs most frequently with her partner, Macdara Ó Faoláin, most recently featuring on his album Ar Thaobh Cill an Fhuarthainn and also toured the UK in the fall with him. Her diverse musical and cultural background has shaped her unique style as a singer, solo guitarist, and banjo player.