Seoid

Kerrie Herrity

Banjo/Fiddle/Mandolin

Kerrie was introduced to music and dancing by her parents at an early age in Luton, the melting pot of Irish culture in the UK. After winning the All Ireland Senior Banjo Kerrie moved home to Sligo continuing to play and teach traditional music. Her compositions are inspired by the rugged landscape of the Wild Atlantic Way, some of which featured on the live streamed “Fleadhfest” in 2021 and on her album ‘Box and Banjo ‘, with box player Kenny Donagher. As well as performing, she set up the Benbulben Comhaltas Branch which hosts the annual Knocklane Traditional music festival. She is also a regular tutor at Ireland's leading Traditional Music Summer Schools. Kerrie has performed internationally in many different bands and ensembles with highlights of performing on Broadway with the dance group ‘Shaylyn’, and numerous Comhaltas Tours in the UK, and United States.

Kenny Donagher

Box / Melodeon 

Kenny Donagher is an accordion player who grew up in a family steeped in music in Easkey in County Sligo. From a young age Kenny played with his family on stage for concerts, céilithe, at fleadhanna and later on radio and television with the family. After a few years as a performer writer and producer of drama and musical theatre in Sligo, Kenny worked part time in local radio as a sound engineer and producer and became the presenter and producer of the station’s traditional music programme for the best part of a decade taking to the roads in the summertime to interview and record the musicians of the day for the local airwaves. Kenny performs with blues, cajun, country and folk bands playing keyboard, blues harmonica and backing vocals, as well as arranging and composing music. He has featured on a number of collaboration recordings and has performed at many festivals and concerts both at home and abroad over the last 3 decades. In 2015 he engineered and produced the album in with Kerrie Herrity which was launched at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Sligo which featured on Fleadh TV that year. His traditional music style is rooted in Sligo fiddle music but is also peppered with contemporary and classical influences.

John Dwyer 

Flute/Whistle/Keys 

John comes from Mullaghroe, about 2 miles from Gurteen, County Sligo, a place steeped in tradition. John’s interest in traditional music was influenced, encouraged and nurtured by his late grandmother ‘Babs’ Dwyer. At a young age he started learning whistle and flute from fiddle teacher Paddy Ryan and accordionist PJ Hernon. In his teenage years he was introduced to the (late) “Ted McGowan academy”…The Róisín Dubh in Gurteen. Here John had the opportunity to meet with, listen to, learn from and play flute whistle and piano with some of the all time greats…Peter Horan, Tom McGowan, Kevin O’Brien, Andy Davey, to name but a few. John’s driving high energy reels and Jigs on the flute are a complete contrast to his wonderfully sensitive renditions of slower contemporary traditional melodies of Joanie Madden and Steve Cooney. Over the years John has played with and accompanied many trad groups, notably Shebeen and prizewinning Céilí bands for Fleadhanna. John is actively involved in carrying on the tradition as a summer school tutor and has a long association with the South Sligo Summer School in Tubbercurry. He works as Events Manager and performs regularly at the Coleman Music Centre in promoting the finest of traditional music, song and dance from around the world, a role which also involves the production, technical direction and sound supervision in the theatre.

Fiachra Guihen

Guitar/Harp/Flute

Fiachra hails from between Keadue and Arigna in Co. Roscommon. He comes from a family steeped in musical tradition. Fiachra started playing whistle when he was seven years old, swiftly moving on to flute. After mastering that, at fifteen he started playing the harp and in a short time went on to become an innovative soloist, arranger and composer. Now he plays guitar and piano as well (not all at the same time but he’s working on it!) Highlights included completing a masters degree in music performance with the University of Limerick Traditional Music Masters Programme and winning the prestigious Senior Harp competition in the O’Carolan harp festival in Keadue, County Roscommon. By day he is a teacher in Co. Leitrim but by night he is a much sought after musician. He performs regularly at sessions, concerts and gigs and had made multiple radio and television appearances with numerous artists including “Gan Ainm” and “Labhras”, as well as performances with a number of ensembles and orchestras nationally, exploring everything from new compositions to early harp music. His addition of a bass pedal and stomp box to his accompaniment has lifted the roof in the many venues he plays!!