Masterclasses
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Seán Browne – Banjo
Murty Ryan – Accordion
Mary McNamara – Concertina
Eileen O’Brien – Fiddle
Jillian O’Malley – Flute
Leo Rickard – Uilleann Pipes
Diane Cannon – Singing
Louise O’Connor – Dancing
Bríd O’Donohue – Repertoire
Masterclass Tutors 2026
We are happy to announce this year’s Ennis Trad Fest masterclass tutors!
Eileen O’Brien – Fiddle
Eileen comes from a family background that is steeped in the Irish tradition. Her father Paddy was instrumental in establishing the B/C style of button accordion playing as we know it today. Paddy was also one of the most prolific composers of traditional music. Dinny O’Brien, (Eileen’s grandfather) played fiddle and concertina and was a highly influential figure in Irish traditional music. He was the leader of the “Bridge Ceili Band” in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Eileen’s late mother was a member of the Seery family from Milltown, Rathconrath, Mullingar. Her mother Eileen Seery was a noted singer in her day. Eileen’s uncle, Sean Seery (piper) and grandfather Jim Seery (fiddle player) were both founder members of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
Eileen has performed and given masterclasses and lectures in many countries, U.S.A Europe, China, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. She is a highly respected teacher and has influenced many aspiring fiddle players.
At present Eileen works at the I.W.A.M.D at the University of Limerick where she teaches students undertaking both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She has performed with many great names over the years like Bobby Gardiner, Joe Burke, Ann Conroy- Burke, Martin Connolly, Jimmy McGreevy, Charlie Harris, Deirdre McSherry, Martin & Seamus Connolly, Martin Hayes, Mary & Andrew McNamara, Geraldine & Eamon Cotter, Catherine McEvoy and many more.
Eileen has recorded three solo albums to date, “Newtown Bridge” (1999), “The Fiddler’s Choice” (2005) and “Aon le hAon” (2012). As a member of “The Boruma Trio” Eileen recorded the album “Gléas” with Andrew MacNamara and Dr Geraldine Cotter. This album focused on the nuances and contrasts between the East Clare and North Tipperary musical tradition. She has produced two books of music, “The Compositions of Paddy O’Brien” (1991) and “The Definitive Collection of the Music of Paddy O’Brien” (2009) both published by J.D.C.Publications, Troon, Ayreshire, Scotland.
Murty Ryan – Accordion
Murty Ryan is one of the leading accordion players in Ireland. Originally from the village of Toor in Co. Tipperary, he learned his instrument from the great Willie Fogarty of Nenagh. He received great musical inspiration from listening to and getting to know the likes of the late Paddy O’Brien and Joe Burke. He moved to Ennis in 1996 where he began a stable musical collaboration with Siobhan Peoples, a partnership that still sees them regularly together, very active in the great and vibrant music scene of Ennis. With Siobhan, he has participated in hundreds of performances in Ireland, Europe and the U.S.A. In 2001, they released the duet album ‘Time on our Hands’.
Mary McNamara – Concertina
Music was a way of life when Mary was growing up in East Clare. Born in the townland of Clondanagh between Tulla and Feakle, she was from an early age in the company of the great masters of Irish Traditional Music of the region such as John Naughton, Martin Rochford, P. Joe Hayes, Francie Donnellan, Joe Bane and Bill Malley. And there was plenty of musical guidance and inheritance from her parents who were both from musical families. Mary learned much from her mother Ita whose discernment in music was unquestionable, with a musical pedigree reaching back many generations.
Mary’s musical style was further honed and perfected as a young girl sitting by the fireside in the homes of Mikey Donoghue in Ballinahinch and P. Joe Hayes of Maghera and then Sunday afternoon sessions with Joe Bane and Bill Malley in Lena’s Bar in Feakle. This unique musical nurturing has resulted in Mary being a highly respected musician performing at home and abroad and also one of the most sought after teachers of Irish Music today.
MÓRglór Award 2019. Mary was the recipient of this prestigious award in 2019. In their commendation Glór stated the following: An inspiration to many musicians, both in Clare, nationally and internationally, and an outstanding ambassador for the traditional arts in Clare, Mary returned to live in her home place of Tulla, Co. Clare in 1995 and set herself the task of restoring traditional music to its rightful place as an integral part of the fabric of life in East Clare. In that, she has been successful as attested by the swathe of wonderful young musicians who are now enjoying the heritage of music in East Clare. On Saturday 16 November 2019, the people of Clare came together to acknowledge a depth of gratitude to Mary for her enormous contribution to Traditional Irish Music with a concert in glór featuring Mary’s friends and family, and some of the most renowned traditional musicians and singers in the country and the county.
Leo Rickard – Uilleann Pipes
Leo Rickard was born in the scenic fishing village of Howth, Co. Dublin. His people were fishermen who also had a keen interest in Irish music. Leo’s brother, Dave, joined the St. Lawrence Pipe Band in Howth in his early teens and is a highly regarded warpiper. Kevin is a fine concertina player and plays mainly around Howth. Their uncle Jimmy Rickard1 played the uilleann pipes. He played with the now famous Rowsome quartet for a period before he emigrated to London in the late 1930’s. Leo only met him once when he came home for his Mother’s funeral in 1974. Sadly he died a year later.
Leo started his piping career in 1976 when he enrolled for lessons in the Piper’s club at No. 14 Thomas Street. This was an important link as his tutors Peter and Kevin McKenna were pupils of the celebrated piper Leo Rowsome. The Piper’s Club had links going back to 1900 and miraculously the piping tradition had survived battered but unbroken. Leo enjoyed going to the Club. There was a great atmosphere and the lessons were very good.
In 1978 Leo was fortunate to be introduced to Paddy Keenan. They struck up a friendship. Paddy lived in Clontarf and Leo lived in Howth. They had plenty of opportunity to play tunes and have the ’craic’ . Paddy gave Leo great encouragement. Leo considered Paddy Keenan to be the greatest living uilleann piper, with unrivalled technique and the skill of a supreme virtuoso. Paddy’s innovation with the pipes and his modesty have impressed Leo. Around the same time Leo met Martin Nolan who is a very good friend and piper. They would meet up two or three times a year and have fun playing and carousing at various Tionols and sessions around the country.
Leo has played with a number of contempory bands, namely “Clann Eadair”, a local group from Howth.(This band was associated with the late Phil Lynott), the Wexford based band “Cry Before Dawn” and “In Tua Nua”. He has toured Sweden and Germany with the “Work and Play Band” in 1991 and 1994. Since then, Leo has mainly been involved in session work and teaching pipes for Na Piobairi Uilleann, mainly at the Willie Clancy Summer School and regional Tionol.
Seán Browne – Banjo
Jillian O’Malley – Flute
Jillian O’Malley is a traditional flute player from Louisburgh, County Mayo. She won the Seán Ó Riada Bonn Óir traditional music competition in 2020, and has helped run the Féile Chois Cuain festival for many years. Her debut flute album, a vibrant collection of Mayo tunes old and new was released in May 2026.
Diane Cannon – Singing
Diane Cannon is a versatile singer, musician and composer from the Donegal Gaeltacht, internationally recognised for her distinctive interpretations of Irish-language sean-nós song. Rooted in the rich singing traditions of northwest Ireland, her work bridges tradition and contemporary performance through collaborations with leading artists across Ireland and Scotland.
Her highly anticipated second album and accompanying bilingual songbook was released in August 2026. Produced by renowned musician and producer Donal O’Connor, the project features collaborations with Steve Cooney, musicians from the Ulster Orchestra and a host of leading traditional performers. Published by Éabhlóid under the direction of Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde, the accompanying book explores the stories, meanings and cultural heritage behind the songs.
Diane recently opened the prestigious Ceòlas Festival in South Uist, performing in the inaugural concert in its new state-of-the-art auditorium alongside Scottish Gaelic singer Mairí MacMillan, piper Leonard Barry and multi-instrumentalist Allan Henderson. She continues to build strong artistic links throughout Scotland, including collaborations with acclaimed piper, singer and composer Ailean MacDonald, exploring the shared traditions of Irish and Scottish Gaelic song.
Her acclaimed debut album Idir Mhuir agus Sliabh established her as one of Ireland’s leading traditional singers, while her recent RTÉ Folk Award nomination for Best Traditional Folk Track recognised her recording of Bean an Fhir Ruaidh, filmed at Crolly Distillery with Steve Cooney and Donal O’Connor. Recent releases also include Daily Growing, which received extensive national and international airplay, and Amhrán Pheadar Breathnach, the latest single from her forthcoming album.
Alongside her solo career, Diane has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia and North America. She collaborated for three years with internationally renowned Japanese choreographer Akiko Kitamura on Echoes of Calling, performing in both Ireland and Japan while developing new work as a composer and artistic collaborator. Her international performances also include Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours International Festival, Danceperados of Ireland tours throughout Europe and numerous festivals and concert series across Ireland, Scotland and beyond.
Recognised for her broad musical knowledge across Irish, Scottish, folk, country and bluegrass traditions, Diane presented a TG4 music series filmed in Nashville, where she recorded with celebrated musicians Joe Spivey and Eddy Dunlop of the legendary Time Jumpers. She is a regular contributor to RTÉ, TG4, BBC and Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Beyond performance, Diane is an active cultural producer. She founded IrishSongLessons.com, an online platform teaching Gaelic song to students worldwide, and established DonegalMusicTrails, creating immersive music and heritage experiences in the Donegal Gaeltacht. She also founded an annual Irish-Scottish festival celebrating the shared traditions of piping and song, bringing together leading artists from both countries.
In recognition of her contribution to Irish traditional music and contemporary Gaelic culture, Diane was featured in the 2025 Leaving Certificate Irish examination, introducing thousands of students to her work and the living tradition of Irish-language song.
Louise O’Connor – Dancing
Louise O’Connor is a dance artist specialising in céilí calling, sean-nós and set dancing with a strong focus on socially engaged practice, accessibility, and intercultural collaboration. She is based in Tubber, Co. Clare and regularly organises community events and classes in Clare, as well as across Ireland and abroad.
Bríd O’Donohue – Repertoire
Bríd O’Donohue is a tin whistle and flute player from Caherush, now living in Glendine, Miltown Malbay, County Clare.
Bríd was deeply influenced by two legends of Clare’s rich musical heritage, her uncle, J.C. Talty of the Laichtín Naofa and Tulla Céilí Bands and uilleann piper Willie Clancy, both of whom, as well as many others, encouraged her musical development.
She teaches tin whistle and flute throughout the year at Ceol na nÓg at home and has been teaching tin whistle at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy for nearly 50 years. She has performed and taught in many workshops throughout Ireland, Europe, Africa and America.
Bríd released her solo tin whistle album Tobar an Dúchais in 2005. She enjoys passing on her love of traditional music and is delighted her musical legacy continues through her family where all five of her children are musicians. She recorded an album Cliabhán an Dúchais with her family and an album with Séamus Ó Rócháin entitled We’ll Meet in Miltown