I gcomhpháirt le Belfast Tradfest Winter Weekend

Iarla Ó Lionáird and Steve Cooney have forged a unique musical partnership over many years and now look forward to recording their first album together in 2020. Their interpretations of songs from the sean-nós tradition have set a new standard of artistic integrity and creative innovation within the traditional structures of the Gaelic song tradition.

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They have explored their own individual paths in their careers – Iarla has performed with such renowned groups as the Afro Celt Sound System and The Gloaming and collaborated with classical ensembles, opera, and film performances, while Steve has performed in many Irish traditional instrumental ensembles and contributed to more than 250 CDs as a guitarist, bass player, and producer. His recently released solo album Ceol Arsa Cláirsí is a glorious celebration of a heritage that stretches back a millennium has been called the most important record of Irish music released in the last decade 

The duo long shared an empathetic link that has grown out of their love of the melodic and poetic art forms created during the time when Gaelic culture was in its full flowering. Iarla grew up immersed in this culture in Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork; Steve grew up in Australia and brings an imaginative perspective to the accompaniment of the songs, based on the traditions of the harpers.

Méábh Smyth

Armagh native Méabh Smyth has been playing the fiddle from the age of 7 and is one of many talented young musicians to emerge form the Armagh Pipers Club in recent years. Coming from a musical family, she was inspired when younger by the fiery, rhythmic fiddle playing native to South Ulster and Donegal and she has since developed her own unique style. A distinguished soloist, she was inaugural Ed Reavy Fiddle Player of the Year as well as being recently crowned the Fiddler of London 2021.