Meet The Artists

The legendary box player, Mick Mulcahy, has a unique, distinctive style that has been passed down to his two multi-instrumentalist daughters, Louise and Michelle. Hailing from Brosna, Mick's father bought him his first accordion in 1956 and in 1968, he won RTE's All Ireland Spot the Talent competition, representing Kerry. Mick was a member of the Brosna Ceilí Band, who in 1972, won the Senior Ceilí Band title at the All Ireland Fleadh.

As well as a solo album, Mick released 'Mick Mulcahy agus cairde' with banjo legend Mick O'Connor, Joe Rynne on fiddle and Mel Mercier on bodhrán. His latest album with his two daughters, 'The Reel Note', won Tradconnects 'Traditional Album of the Year 2017'. Mick received the Bardic Award in 2017 and the family received a Civic Reception in Limerick City which honoured their outstanding contribution to Irish

traditional music.

We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Mick to Manchester to teach and are excited to present this rare opportunity to witness one of the greatest button accordion maestros at our festival concert.

Internationally renowned performer, Louise Mulcahy of Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, is one of the most active female musicians on the trad scene, paving the way for future generations and unearthing the history of many forgotten female uilleann pipers.

Having started on the tin whistle aged 5, and then the flute, she is the only person to have won four Senior All Ireland titles in the fleadh's history. Louise’s groundbreaking research work on women in uilleann piping has received worldwide critical acclaim and she presented the landmark documentary for TG4 titled 'Mná na bPíob' in 2021. Louise released the highly-acclaimed solo album, 'Tuning the Road' in 2014 and won 'Female Musician of the Year 2017' as well as being awarded the Liam O’ Flynn Award in 2022.

The list of Louise's achievements and accolades continues to grow longer and we are incredibly pleased that she and The Mulcahy Family are joining us for the inaugural TGTM TradFest this September.​ ​

One of Ireland's most talented multi-instrumentalists, we don't think there is an instrument left for Michelle to master! As well as her renowned harp solo albums 'Suaimhneas' and ‘Lady on the Island’, Michelle has recorded with Bill Whelan and the Irish Chamber Orchestra as lead soloist. She was also awarded TG4's Young Musician of the Year in 2006, voted Female Musician of the Year and awarded the TG4 Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana in 2006. Following this, Michelle, Mick, and Louise received the TG4 Gradam Ceoil award for their contribution to Irish traditional music, which is hardly surprising once you have listened to their incredible family albums 'Notes from the Heart' and 'The Reel Note'.

As well as having received such prestigious awards, Michelle is a teacher and a scholar with a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology and her research topic exploring the harp traditions of Burma and Ireland is the first of its kind. 

We can't wait to present Michelle and the Mulcahy's at the festival concert and check out tickets now for Michelle's sought-after harp workshop.

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Hailing from a very musical family and despite having grown up in the home of flute playing in County Roscommon, Dylan is an accomplished fiddle player and is one of Ireland's most credited musicians. A member of the group Carlos, Sweeney, McCartin, the band released their debut album in 2019 and subsequently their second album, aptly named,'The One After It', in 2024. Dylan, son of flautist John Carlos, also performs with the group ‘Gatehouse’ from time to time and played in Cryan's Teach Ceoil for many years. He is a past All-Ireland champion on fiddle and teaches regularly at workshops and festivals around Ireland and abroad, sharing his expertise and style. We can't wait to showcase Dylan's incredible playing at our festival concert. Dylan will also be running a fiddle workshop masterclass. 

The Carlos, Sweeney and McCartin trio say themselves that they are very, very much about the music so they couldn't be more suited to our tradfest.

Guitar virtuoso, John McCartin, brings authenticity and humility to his playing that translates effortlessly to any audience.

Hailing from Leitrim, and another musical family, McCartin holds a masters degree in 'Traditional Music Performance' from The University of Limerick, showing his dedication to keeping the tradition alive. 

A renowned teacher and performer and an accomplished fiddle player, John is also a member of the group Garadice. He has played and recorded with artists including Donal Lunny, Frankie Gavin, Dermot Byrne, and Sharon Shannon, as well as bands including Dervish, Lunasa and De Dannan.

Recently becoming the owner of Avalon Guitars, John comments, 'The instrument has brought me to every corner of the world and brought me unbelievable joy and satisfaction in my life.' So we are delighted to be welcoming John to Manchester to share his expertise, experience and passion. Tickets are on sale now for the concert and John's guitar workshop.

Cein Sweeney, a world-champion flute player from Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, comes from a family steeped in musicianship and is known to be one of the greatest flautists of his generation.  His uncle, the late Ted Sweeney was a well-known fiddle player and the family have been very much a pillar of the trad community in the town.

Influenced by greats including Matt Molloy, Cein is a sought-after musician and has taught and performed at many festivals and events across Ireland, the UK, Europe and the USA. His chemistry with Dylan and John has been described a 'crisp, clean and no-nonsense'.

The exceptional trio have had an incredible response from both critics and peers alike so it's no wonder the household names Donal Lunny, Dave Sheridan, John-Joe Kelly and George McAdam joined the trio on their two albums. 

We are so pleased to be welcoming Cein to Manchester to share with us his exceptional talent. You can purchase your tickets now for Cein's flute workshop and the trad concert. Simply click the link be