Irish folk artists
Irish folk artists of Britain and Ireland on Folk Calendar: 125 of them, with their dates, where they were born and died, and their recordings. Every artist, A to Z
By role
By instrument
By tradition
A
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© Myrtle26CC BY-SA 2.0
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Singer and flute player; Danú
B
- Margaret Barry 1917 to 1989 Singer and banjo player; Cork and London
- Séamus Begley 1949 to 2023 Accordion player and singer; west Kerry
- Dominic Behan 1928 to 1989 Songwriter and writer; The Patriot Game, Liverpool Lou
- Derek Bell 1935 to 2002 Harper, oboist and pianist; The Chieftains
- Mary Bergin Tin whistle player; Feadóga Stáin, Dordán
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© Houses of the OireachtasCC BY 2.0
Frances Black
Singer; The Black Family, Arcady
- Mary Black Singer; De Dannan, No Frontiers
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© Bryan LedgardCC BY 2.0
Paul Brady
Singer, guitarist and songwriter; Planxty
- Breandán Breathnach 1912 to 1985 Piper and collector; Ceol Rince na hÉireann
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© Redfern7CC BY-SA 3.0
Moya Brennan
1952 to 2026
Singer and harpist; Clannad
- Edward Bunting 1773 to 1843 Collector of Irish harp music; the Belfast Harp Festival
- Joe Burke 1939 to 2021 Button accordion player; East Galway
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© Mark TurnerCC BY 2.0
Kevin Burke
Fiddler; The Bothy Band, Patrick Street
- Eddie Butcher 1900 to 1980 Traditional singer and songmaker; Magilligan
- Packie Manus Byrne 1917 to 2015 Singer, whistle player and storyteller; Donegal
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© XIIIfromTOKYOCC BY-SA 4.0
Eamonn Campbell
1946 to 2017
Guitarist and producer; The Dubliners
- Tomás Ó Canainn 1930 to 2013 Uilleann piper and writer; Na Filí
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© XIIIfromTOKYOCC BY-SA 4.0
Seán Cannon
Singer and guitarist; The Dubliners
- Paddy Canny 1919 to 2008 Fiddler; East Clare, the Tulla Céilí Band
- Nicholas Carolan Founding director; Irish Traditional Music Archive
- Bobby Casey 1926 to 2000 Fiddler; West Clare and London
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© CrowmusicCC BY-SA 4.0
Karan Casey
Singer; formerly of Solas
- Nollaig Casey Fiddler; Planxty and Coolfin
- Darach Ó Catháin 1922 to 1987 Sean-nós singer; Connemara
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© Junction FestivalCC BY-SA 3.0
Liam Clancy
1935 to 2009
Singer and guitarist; The Clancy Brothers
- Paddy Clancy 1922 to 1998 Singer and harmonica player; The Clancy Brothers
- Tom Clancy 1924 to 1990 Singer; The Clancy Brothers
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© DougsimCC BY-SA 4.0
Willie Clancy
1918 to 1973
Uilleann piper, flute and whistle player
- Julia Clifford 1914 to 1997 Fiddler; Sliabh Luachra
- Michael Coleman 1891 to 1945 Fiddler; Sligo style
- Zoë Conway Fiddler and violinist
- Joe Cooley 1924 to 1973 Button accordion player; Tulla Céilí Band
- Steve Cooney Guitarist, composer and producer
- Matt Cranitch Fiddler and scholar; Na Filí
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© BrennliddyCC BY-SA 4.0
Kevin Crawford
Flute and whistle player; Lúnasa
- Junior Crehan 1908 to 1998 Fiddler and tune composer; west Clare
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© Marthad99CC BY-SA 4.0
Elizabeth Cronin
1879 to 1956
Sean nós singer; Ballyvourney, County Cork
- Elizabeth Crotty 1885 to 1960 Concertina player; west Clare
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© SpinaciCC BY-SA 3.0
Jackie Daly
Button accordion and concertina; Sliabh Luachra
- Kevin Danaher 1913 to 2002 Folklorist; The Year in Ireland
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© Cindy FunkCC BY 2.0
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
Singer and keyboard player; The Bothy Band, Skara Brae
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© Bryan Ledgard from Yorkshire, UKCC BY 2.0
Cara Dillon
Singer; Irish traditional song
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© Andreas F. BorchertCC BY-SA 4.0
John Doherty
1900 to 1980
Fiddler; Donegal
- Liz Doherty Fiddler and scholar; Nomos
- Mícheál Ó Domhnaill 1951 to 2006 Singer and guitarist; the Bothy Band, Skara Brae
- Felix Doran Uilleann piper; Traveller
- Johnny Doran 1908 to 1950 Uilleann piper; Traveller
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© Frank SchwichtenbergCC BY-SA 4.0
John Doyle
Guitarist and singer; Solas and Usher's Island
- Ronnie Drew 1934 to 2008 Singer and guitarist; The Dubliners
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© Rs-fotoCC BY-SA 3.0
Niamh Dunne
Fiddler and singer; Beoga
E
- Séamus Ennis 1919 to 1982 Uilleann piper, collector and broadcaster; As I Roved Out
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© CairnrynCC BY-SA 4.0
E. Estyn Evans
1905 to 1989
Geographer; Irish Folk Ways
F
- John Francis Flynn Singer, flute and whistle player
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© Candy Schwartz from Boston, USACC BY 2.0
Frankie Gavin
Fiddler and flute player; De Dannan
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© candyschwartz from Boston, USACC BY 2.0
Paddy Glackin
Fiddler; founding member of the Bothy Band
- Len Graham Traditional singer and song collector; Ulster
H
- Reg Hall Melodeon player; historian of Irish music in London
- Frank Harte 1933 to 2005 Singer and collector of Dublin street songs
- Martin Hayes Fiddler; East Clare style, The Gloaming
- Joe Heaney 1919 to 1984 Sean-nós singer and storyteller; Connemara
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© The BannerCC BY-SA 4.0
Noel Hill
Concertina player and teacher
- Joe Holmes 1906 to 1978 Fiddler, lilter and singer; with Len Graham
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© Frank SchwichtenbergCC BY-SA 3.0
Andy Irvine
Singer and bouzouki player; Planxty, Sweeney's Men
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© XIIIfromTOKYOCC BY-SA 4.0
Cathy Jordan
Singer and bodhrán player; Dervish
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© Tony 1212CC BY 4.0
Dolores Keane
1953 to 2026
Singer; De Dannan, A Lion in a Cage
- Seán Keane Singer; Arcady
- Paddy Keenan 1950 to 2026 Uilleann piper; The Bothy Band
- Luke Kelly 1940 to 1984 Singer and banjo player; The Dubliners
- Frankie Kennedy 1955 to 1994 Flute player; co-founder of Altan
- Paddy Killoran 1903 to 1965 Fiddler and bandleader; south Sligo style
L
- Tony Linnane Fiddler; County Clare
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© XyzdudeCC BY-SA 3.0
Iarla Ó Lionáird
Sean-nós singer; The Gloaming
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© Richiecoss at English WikipediaPublic Domain Mark
Dónal Lunny
Bouzouki player and producer; Planxty, Bothy Band
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© Masao NakagamiCC BY-SA 2.0
Shane MacGowan
1957 to 2023
Lead Singer of The Pogues, general Hell raiser
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© AthlourCC BY-SA 3.0
Tony MacMahon
1939 to 2021
Button accordion player and broadcaster; The Long Note
- Sarah Makem 1900 to 1983 Traditional singer; Keady, County Armagh
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© Cindy FunkCC BY 2.0
Tommy Makem
1932 to 2007
Singer, banjo and whistle player; The Clancy Brothers
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© BastunCC BY-SA 4.0
Liam Ó Maonlaí
Singer and bodhrán player; Hothouse Flowers
- Ciarán Mac Mathúna 1925 to 2009 Collector and broadcaster; Mo Cheol Thú
- Jim McCann 1944 to 2015 Singer; The Dubliners, Grace
- Cathal McConnell Flute and whistle player and singer; The Boys of the Lough
- Arty McGlynn 1944 to 2019 Guitarist; Patrick Street and Planxty
- Seán McGuire 1927 to 2005 Fiddler; Belfast
- Barney McKenna 1939 to 2012 Tenor banjo player; The Dubliners
- Francie McPeake 1917 to 1986 Piper and teacher; the McPeake Family
- Francis McPeake 1885 to 1971 Uilleann piper and singer; the McPeake Family
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© Bryan LedgardCC BY 2.0
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Fiddler and singer; Altan
- Matt Molloy Flute player; The Chieftains
- Paddy Moloney 1938 to 2021 Uilleann piper and whistle player; The Chieftains
- Christy Moore Singer and guitarist; Planxty, Moving Hearts
- James Morrison 1893 to 1947 Fiddler; south Sligo style
- Tom Munnelly 1944 to 2007 Collector of Irish traditional song
- Denis Murphy 1910 to 1974 Fiddler; Sliabh Luachra
- Noel Murphy Singer, guitarist and humourist
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© From R.B. Armstrong "The Irish and Highland Harps", Edinburgh, David Douglas, 1904.Public Domain Mark
Turlough O’Carolan
1670 to 1738
Blind harper and composer
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© MaybesometimeCC BY-SA 3.0
Máirtín O’Connor
Button accordion player; De Dannan
- Liam O’Flynn 1945 to 2018 Uilleann piper; Planxty
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© Bryan LedgardCC BY 2.0
Damien O’Kane
Singer, banjo player and guitarist
- Pádraig O’Keeffe 1887 to 1963 Fiddler and teacher; Sliabh Luachra
- Johnny O’Leary 1923 to 2004 Button accordion player; Sliabh Luachra
- Francis O’Neill 1848 to 1936 Collector of Irish dance music; Chicago police chief
- Lisa O’Neill Singer and songwriter; Heard a Long Gone Song
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© GramshamSecCC BY-SA 4.0
Niamh Parsons
Singer; Arcady
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© Paul HudsonCC BY 2.0
Radie Peat
Singer, concertina and harmonium player; Lankum
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© Eames59CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication)
Tommy Peoples
1948 to 2018
Fiddler and composer; Donegal style
- George Petrie 1790 to 1866 Antiquary and collector; the Petrie Collection
R
- Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh Fiddler; The Gloaming
- Paddy Reilly Ballad singer; The Fields of Athenry, The Dubliners
- Seán Ó Riada 1931 to 1971 Composer; Ceoltóirí Chualann, Mise Éire
- Leo Rowsome 1903 to 1970 Uilleann piper, pipe maker and teacher
- Micho Russell 1915 to 1994 Tin whistle player and singer; Doolin
S
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© Avner FittermanCC BY-SA 3.0
Tommy Sands
Singer and songwriter; The Sands Family
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© Stefan Brending (2eight)CC BY-SA 3.0
Sharon Shannon
Button accordion player and fiddler
- John Sheahan Fiddler and whistle player; The Dubliners
- Hugh Shields 1929 to 2008 Song scholar; Folk Music Society of Ireland
- Declan Sinnott Guitarist and producer; Moving Hearts
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© AlineofelmsCC BY-SA 4.0
Dáithí Sproule
Guitarist and singer; Skara Brae and Altan
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© MissgrumpyPublic Domain Mark
Heidi Talbot
Singer and songwriter; formerly of Cherish the Ladies
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© A.-K. D.CC BY-SA 4.0
Nioclás Tóibín
1928 to 1994
Sean-nós singer; Déise tradition
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© Captain Francis O'NeillPublic Domain Mark
Patsy Touhey
1865 to 1923
Uilleann piper; Irish American vaudeville
- Paddy Tunney 1921 to 2002 Singer, lilter and writer, the Man of Songs; Fermanagh
U
- Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin Singer and scholar of Irish song; A Hidden Ulster
V
- Fintan Vallely Flute player and writer; Companion to Irish Traditional Music
W
- Liam Weldon 1933 to 1995 Singer and songwriter; Dark Horse on the Wind