Aiden Walsh

Aiden Walsh, originally from Tubercurry in Co. Sligo, is by now a long-time resident of Belfast. He is well known for his distinct, driving style and is much sought after as a teacher and performer. 

Tomaí Taylor

Tomaí is a bodhrán player and maker from Belfast. He started playing the bodhrán at age 17 and within a year had appeared at a Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann final. Since then he has performed and taught in local and international settings.

Sean Dolan

Sean Dolan, from Castlederg in Co. Tyrone, is a multi-All Ireland medallist at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann on button accordion and has been teaching music since 2011. Sean is a member of the Lagan Ceili Band and National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, notably performing for Pope Francis on his 2018 visit to Ireland. Sean is a patient and adaptable teacher keen to develop box-playing skills at all levels.

Niamh Howell

Niamh Howell is a concertina player from Castlewellan, now living and teaching in Belfast. Niamh is an All Ireland medalist at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and has been teaching music since 2012. Niamh began learning the concertina from one of our former tutors Tom McGonigle. With further tuition from Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh and Lorraine O’Brien, Niamh is passionate about passing on her love for traditional Irish music through concertina playing. We are delighted to have her join our team of tutors.

Lorraine Ó Brien

Steeped in the concertina tradition of her native Co. Clare, Lorraine began her musical education under the guidance of the legendary teacher, Frank Custy. With further tuition from such greats as Dympna O’Sullivan and Noel Hill, Lorraine has developed into one of the leading concertina players in her own right. She holds a B.A. Music from Trinity College, Dublin and M.A. Music Therapy from the University of Limerick. Lorraine is a regular tutor at the Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay, Co.Clare.

Martin Dowling

Beginner and Lower Intermediate Levels
Martin has a long history of involvement in traditional music as a fiddler, teacher, academic, writer, and arts officer.  Over the years he has served as treasurer and chair of the Belfasttrad management committee, and has taught the fiddle for the society since the 1990s.  He also teaches annually at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, and has performed and taught extensively in Europe and the United States.  Martin has written and lectured on many aspects Irish traditional music while working as a researcher and lecturer in University College Dublin and Queen’s University of Belfast. In 2014 he published the widely read book Traditional Music and Irish Society: Historical Perspectives and is currently working on a memoir called The Education of a Fiddler.

Kevin McCullagh

Beginner and Upper Intermediate Levels
Kevin McCullagh is a fiddle player from Belfast. His detailed, driving yet unhurried style is rooted in the city where he comes from, being a regular musician in the local tradtional session scene as well as the experimental improv scene based around SARC, where he achievd an MA in Sonic Arts in 2016.

Ciara Maguire

Ciara is a fiddle player and classical violinist from Castlewellan, Co. Down. She has participated in numerous fleadhanna, is a member of the Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra, and performs with Michael Rooney’s Osmos na n-Ultach. She has toured Europe with dance shows and performed in Comhaltas tours, Macalla na hÉireann (2019) and Echoes of Erin (2020). Awarded a Diploma in Fiddle by the London College of Music in 2017 and the 2023 Gradam Ceoil bursary, she also performed at the Royal Albert Hall as a Music for Youth finalist. Now based in Belfast, she teaches and gigs locally.

Melanie Houton

Kids Fiddle
Melanie is originally from Inishowen, Co.Donegal and is a highly respected player and teacher. She has played some of Ireland's biggest festivals and appeared on flagship television and radio programmes for national broadcasters RTÉ, TG4 and BBC. In 2019, Melanie and her sister Paula, released their first album, 'A Snapshot in Time' which they launched at Belfast's and Ennis' TradFests. She is especially good with the little ones who want to get started on the fiddle.

Davy Maguire

Davy is one of the most significant flute players of his generation, known not only in Belfast, but on the European continent for his dynamic and powerful style. He has travelled regularly to Britanny and formed a strong playing partnership with the Breton flute player Jean Michelle Veillon. Davy is equally well-known for his humour and teaching ability and he is respected as one of Belfast's finest musical sons.

Clair McGreevy

Belfast born Clair McGreevy is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and member of bands Wookalily, Dornán and Sí.

Known for her bass-laden driving DADGAD guitar style, as well as subtle traditional flute playing and harmonious Stevie Nicks-esque vocals, she has been a prominent figure in the Irish Trad scene around Ireland and beyond for over 15 years. 

She is a much sought after tutor at Belfast Traditional Music School, teaching all levels, specialising in Advanced Traditional Irish DADGAD Guitar courses

Combining experience with raw talent she has toured in Brazil, India, Norway, Poland and all over the UK and Ireland.

Deirdre Galway

Deirdre is a founding member of the Irish traditional bands Réalta and Music in the Glen. With these projects she has released four critically acclaimed studio albums, performed live on BBC and RTÉ TV, and at venues and festivals throughout the world including Celtic Connections (Glasgow), Sori (South Korea), Saarang (India) and Milwaukee Irish Fest (USA).

Deirdre performs Irish music at sea for Disney Cruise Lines, and closer to home for The Belfast Traditional Music Trail and for Live Music Now, a charity which brings music into various community settings. She is passionate about teaching and runs DADGAD guitar classes for Belfast Trad, as well workshops for various international festivals.

Ciara Taaffe 

All Levels
As well being a graduate of Queen's University with a Bachelor Degree of Music in 2012, Ciara holds an Associate Teaching Diploma with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She has extensive experience as a music tutor and first began teaching in 2007. She has been recently touring with Carlos Nunez.

TRADITIONAL SINGING

Méabh Meir 

Méabh is a traditional singer and member of four part harmony traditional vocal group Landless who have recorded 2 albums and have toured Ireland, the UK, and Europe. She is a co-founder of Belfast Singing Sessions and has been teaching traditional singing since 2015. She is a qualified art teacher and art therapist. Her interest in traditional song has been inspired and nurtured by family, friends, and singers across Ireland and the U.K. and is incorporated in both her art and therapy practices.

Róise Ní Mhurchú

Róise Ní Mhurchú is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Derry. Róise has very strong links with the Donegal Gaeltacht, where she spent her childhood speaking Irish, playing music and learning songs. She is widely respected in the singing community and has performed and taught all across Ireland. She is a multiple All-Ireland Champion in Singing and Lilting. Róise is now in Belfast, continuing her studies to be an Irish Language Primary School teacher. Róise is very passionate about sharing her love for singing and really enjoys passing on our traditional songs.

Tim Flaherty

Beginners & Improvers Levels
Tim is a dancer, accordion player and Tin whistler. From Belfast, he is known throughout the continent for his gentle good humour. Tim regularly teaches set dancing around Ireland and Europe and plays a key role in the delivery of dance tuition for Belfast Trad. He doubles as our beginners and improvers tin whistle tutor.

Fióna Ní Mhearáin

Kids & Adult Tin Whistle Classes
Fióna began learning whistle as a child with BelfastTrad tutor and flute player, Davy Maguire.  She has a long relationship with BelfastTrad having been involved with the society as a student, a committee member, administrator and a tutor.   She is a qualified teacher and over the years has taught in a wide range of settings.  She loves to make difficult and challenging skills accessible for learners of all ages.

Tom Clarke

Beginner and Intermediate Level
Tom Clarke is well-known in piping circles. He has been teaching the pipes for many years now and is very skilled in explaining the intricacies of this ancient and beautiful instrument. While the pipes are not the easiest instrument to learn, their music has been an essential component of Irish music for over 300 years. unparalleled. Tom also organises the annual Belfast Piping Tíonol, held every March. In 2005 Tom was honoured to receive an award from Na Píobairí Uilleann in recognition and appreciation of over 30 years of dedicated teaching on the uilleann pipes.

Berni Corr

Sean nós / traditional step dancing classes
Originally from Co. Tyrone, Berni has a family background in traditional Irish music and dance. She started dancing with BelfastTrad in 1995 and has learnt from many dancing legends including James Keane, Celine Tubridy, Patrick O’Dea and many others throughout Ireland and beyond. Berni has been involved in the teaching and performance of both set dancing and old-style step dancing in both Ireland and Europe and has been a tutor with BelfastTrad for several years.

Tim Flaherty

Set Dancing, two-handed dances, waltzes, steps for sets.

Bio under Tin Whistle.