Máire Ní Chéileachair, Cork

Born and raised in Farran, Co. Cork, Máire Ní Chéileachair inherited her love of traditional songs and music from her family roots in Kilnamartyra in the Muskerry Gaeltacht. She was Singer in Residence in that Gaeltacht area in 2000-2001 and has been teaching sean-nós singing to young people there since. She has won many prizes at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge singing competitions, including second place in “Corn Uí Riada” in 2005, 2007 and 2008. She is a regular visitor at singing festivals around Ireland and has brought her singing to audiences in England, Germany, France, Canada and the USA. Her songs may be heard on a collection called “Guth ar fán”. This is Máires first visit to Inishowen.

Len Graham, Antrim

County Antrim born, Len Graham has been a full-time professional traditional singer since 1982. From the early 1960s Len sought out and recorded older singers such as Eddie Butcher and Joe Holmes. His musical friendship with Joe Holmes resulted in two albums being recorded. As a founder member of the group Skylark in 1986 he toured extensively for ten years. Over the years, Len has collaborated and worked with numerous musicians, poets and storytellers. His association with the late John Campbell brought storytelling and song to a world audience. Their work together over twenty years made a significant contribution toward creating a deeper cross-community understanding of shared cultural traditions during many years of conflict in the north of Ireland. Len has performed at numerous Irish and international folk, literary and storytelling festivals, as well as appearing on many radio and television programmes. In 1992 he received the Seán O’Boyle Cultural Traditions Award in recognition of his work in Ireland as a song collector and singer. In 2002, he was honoured as the first recipient of the Irish television TG4 National Music Award for “Traditional Singer Of the Year.” In 2008 he was awarded “Keeper of the Tradition” from the Tommy Makem Festival of Traditional Song and the US Irish Music Award for “Sean-Nós Singing”

Jim MacFarland, Derry

Jim is one of Ireland’s finest traditional singers, with a voice and repertoire admired by many. He has travelled extensively, guesting in Ireland, the UK, Europe, North America and Canada. His talent also lies in collecting and is no stranger to Inishowen, having co-produced ‘My Parents Reared Me Tenderly’ a collection of Inishowen songs in the 1980s. Jim runs a singing session in Derry and is a stalwart supporter of the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle. He has produced 1 solo CD, 1 CD with Jackie Boyce and has featured on a number of compilation CDs.

Michael Quinn, Armagh

Mick hails from Mullaghbawn, Co. Armagh and has been a regular at Inishowen. He is one of the true gentlemen of the tradition and has enriched many a gathering with his storytelling and singing. Mick recently released his debut CD - 'The Man that Shot the Dog'. He has had a major influence on many singers in the South Armagh and North Louth region.

Peta Webb, London

Peta Webb, a Londoner with an Irish background, formed her highly-acclaimed individual vocal style through the influence of Irish traditional singers especially Margaret Barry, Sarah Makem and Sarah and Rita Keane. Peta believes firmly in the importance of learning directly from traditional singers wherever possible and has taken part in many collecting trips. With Ken Hall she now runs the successful Musical Traditions Club in West London, which has a policy of showcasing traditional singers. They are popular guests at festivals throughout Britain, Ireland and the US. Ken and Peta explore the rich sounds of a Capella duet singing, drawing on the American Brother duets of the 1940s as well as British and Irish traditions. Peta is also a librarian in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, Cecil Sharpe House in London.

Derek Williamson, Scotland/Donegal

The Scottish tradition will be held high by our guest Derek Williamson. Originally from Glasgow, Derek now lives in Carrick, Co. Donegal where he is a leading figure in the musical community, along with his wife Margaret Cunningham. Derek has an amazing range and sweetness in his voice and his repertoire of Scottish and Irish songs never fails to leave the company enthralled.

Con Fada Ó Drisceoil, Cork

Hailing from Cork this is Con's first visit to the wilds of Inishowen. A winner of the Traditional Composer of the Year award winner at the 2009 TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards he is a man who revels in a surreal world where canine neutering, demonic spoons players, Shakespearean drama and the prophylactic properties of accordion-shaped, tequila-drenched cakes are all equal and fit subjects for his song writing talents. The Spoons Murder and Other Mysteries, a collection of Con's songs was released in 2006 and is a must for anyone remotely interested in traditional songs, comic or otherwise. Con is also a fine box player and is a member of the Four Star Trio.