Paudie O Connor is an accordion player from Sliabh Luachra Kerry. His playing follows in the traditions of Sliabh Luachra, with his influences ranging from the bowing of Padraig O Keeffe and Denis Murphy to the time spent in his youth playing with local box players Johnny O Leary, Jimmy Doyle and John Brosnan. In 2005 he launched a landmark recording of Sliabh Luachra music entitled Different State which featured in the best of 2005 lists of both The Irish Times and The Irish Echo. Paudie’s music also featured on the album The County Bounds, a 1999 Ossian records production featuring a compilation of music from the Cork-Kerry border including contributions from Johnny O'Leary, Jackie Daly and Peadar Ó Riada.

On Different State, Paudie is joined by his wife Aoife Ní Chaoimh, a fiddle player from Tralee, Co. Kerry. Aoife learned her music from local teachers Anne and Nicky McAulliffe. She plays a style very much in sync with the Sliabh Luachra tradition and contributes much to the unique settings and rhythm that typifies their duet playing. She has been featured on numerous TV and radio programmes including The Liberty Hall Late Session (RTÉ) and Geantraí (TG4).

In 2008 Paudie released the album Wind and Reeds with ex-Riverdance uilleann piper John O'Brien and Jim Murray on guitar. Paudie is a regular contributor to traditional music festivals, workshops and lectures at home and abroad. In October 2010 Paudie performed in the music ensemble as part of Rough Magic’s production of Phaedra for the Dublin Theatre Festival and in 2011 presented an episode of Geantraí featuring many of the musicians currently playing in Sliabh Luachra.

Mick O'Brien is one of our best-loved uilleann pipers, performing regularly as a solo artist, with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and with the Norwegian groups Vamp, Hanne Krogh, and Secret Garden. His first solo album 'The May Morning Dew' (1996) was received with great critical acclaim, and his duo album with Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh 'Kitty Lie Over' (2003) has since become a classic. He comes from a great Dublin musical family, and now his own children are becoming fine performers in their own right. 

Sean-nós singer, Nell Ní Chróinín grew up immersed in the strong singing tradition of her native Musacaí Gaeltacht area of West Cork where she began singing at a young age. Her main influences are Máire Ní Cheilleachar and Eoiní Maidhicí Ó Suilleabháin, from whom she acquired many of her songs. Achievements to date include several underage medal and singing titles from competitions held at festivals such as the Oireachas na Gaeilge, where she won Comortas na mBan and Comortas Sean- Nóis faoi 35 this year.  She has appeared on many television series, such as Geanntraí and Anam an Amhrán. At present she is teaching in Gaeilscoil Osraí in Kilkenny City where she is encouraging the youth to take part in the tradition.

* Paudie and Aoife are also available for performances as a duo.

* Paudie, Aoife and Mick are also available for performances as a trio.

Reviews

"Sliabh Luachra box player Paudie O'Connor was one of the year's left-field surprises. His spare style gelled perfectly with an emotional fearlessness, which in debuts is a rare thing of beauty"

Siobhan Long, Irish Times

"Paudie O'Connor keeps the memory of old Sliabh Luachra masters alive not by copying or imitating them but by respecting them through his own understanding, appreciation, and unique talent."

Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo

Links

www.paudieoconnor.com

www.windandreeds.com

http://www.kittylieover.com/

For further information on availability or artist fees, or to discuss a booking please contact the Performance Programmes Manager by emailing performance@musicnetwork.ie or telephone: 01 6719429.