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 medalist at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann on button accordion and has been teaching music since 2011. Sean is a patient and adaptable teacher that is keen to develop box playing skills at every 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 Glenn (Ní Bhriain)

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

Lower Intermediate and Advanced Levels
Martin has a long history of involvement in traditional music; as a fiddler, teacher, academic, author, and arts officer. He teaches annually at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare and has written and lectured extensively on aspects of the history of Irish traditional music.

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.

Melanie Houton

Kids Fiddle
Melanie is originally from Inishowen, Co.Donegal and is a highly respected player and teacher. 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

Hailing from Belfast, Clair McGreevy is a professional multi-instrumentalist and a member of bands Wookalily and Sí.

A prominent player in the local Trad scene, she plays weekly seisiuns at various venues in Belfast. She has been teaching instruments for over twenty years in a variety of schools around Ireland and further afield.

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 

Introduction to Traditional Singing for Adults
Méabh is a traditional singer and member of four part harmony traditional vocal group Landless. Her interest in traditional song has been inspired and nurtured by family, friends, and singers across Ireland and the U.K. She is also a member of HIVE choir and co-founder of Belfast Singing Circle.

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 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 and now as 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.

Deirdre McGrory

Adult Intermediate-Advanced level

Deirdre Mc Grory is an emerging tin whistle player and singer from the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal. Deirdre has appeared with ensembles Coirm, Inishowen Traditional Music Project (ITMP) Ensembles and Cineál. She has recently graduated with a First Class Honours in Irish Music from the University of Limerick. In October 2021, Deirdre with her sister Ella, released their debut EP ‘Loinnir’.

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.

Bernie Graham

Sean nós / traditional step dancing classes
Bernie was born in Bangor, Co Down, and has been dancing with BelfastTrad for over 25 years. Starting with step dancing, she progressed to learn sean nós and old style steps from such great masters as Joe O'Donovan, James Keane, Dan Furey, Frank McConnell and many more. She has travelled extensively through Europe, Ireland, America and more performing and providing workshops in the old style of traditional Irish Dance.

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.