Síle Denvir

Dr Síle Denvir is an interdisciplinary scholar, sean-nós singer and harpist from Indreabhán in the Connemara Gaeltacht. She has a particular interest in Irish-language song and has published two books, Tom a’ tSeoighe: Amhráin (Cló Iar-Chonnacht 2020) and Ciarán Ó Fátharta: Amhráin (Cló Iar-Chonnacht 2008), and numerous articles on various aspects of the Irish language song tradition. She has a particular interest in combining her academic and creative work and recent artistic research projects include the production of a series of videos of Tom a’ tSeoighe’s songs (Molscéal, TG4 2020) and a CD/Booklet called Caithréim (Cló Iar-Chonnacht 2016) based on the music and song from the plays of Patrick Pearse. Caithréim was shortlisted by The Irish Times in the highly competitive ‘Best Traditional Album 2016’ category and won an award for best traditional album at Gradam Nós 2017. Síle is also music director for ‘Bláth na hÓige’, an exciting new series that showcases the talents of young sean-nós singers from various Gaeltacht areas. Her most recent album Anamnesis, a recording of sean-nós songs, was released in March 2023 and she was recently named ‘singer of the year’ in the prestigious ‘Gradam Ceoil TG4’ awards.

https://www.siledenvir.com/

Caitlín Nic Gabhann

Concertina player, dancer and composer Caitlín Nic Gabhann is a regular performer nationally and internationally. A former troupe dancer with Riverdance, her compositions have been performed in the Cork Opera House and NCH. She has performed with the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, Paddy Keenan, Liam Ó Maonlaí, and at ‘Ceiliúradh’ in the Royal Albert Hall as a guest of President Michael D. Higgins. Her debut solo CD release “Caitlín” was labelled the “top Irish traditional album of 2012” by The Wall Street Journal.
Caitlín is currently concentrating on musical collaborations with the award-winning fiddle player and documentary maker, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh. She is also involved as musician and dancer with bands NicGaviskey, Birkin Tree, The Irish Concertina Ensemble and original theatre production Mag Mell.

https://www.caitlin.ie/

Sheila Friel

Sheila Friel is an uilleann piper from North West Donegal with connections to Glasgow. She enjoys recording, filming and touring along with her sisters in their band The Friel Sisters. They released their self-titled debut album in 2014 and ‘Before the Sun’ in 2017 with a new album to be released this year. The Friel Sisters tour extensively across America and Europe and regularly appear on screen, radio and print. Sheila was the resident piper at the World Fair Expo in 2015 in Milan and featured prominently at the same event in Dubai in 2022 where she enjoyed promoting uilleann piping to an international audience and followed in the footsteps of many great pipers to have played this event since the late 1800s.

http://frielmusic.com/

In 2021 both Síle and Caitlín were commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Traditional Music Archive to compose new music in the traditional idiom to celebrate St Brigid's Day. Caitlín composed both the steps and a tune for a slip jig called St Brigid's Day, while Síle composed a song in Irish called Seo í isteach mo Bhrídeog. Both compositions will be performed as part of the concert.

You may also wish to book the morning conference on Why did St. Brigit choose Kildare? – places may be booked on the Conference page.