Brian Miller is a leading figure in the research and revival of song traditions from the white pine regions of the northern US and Canada. With his duo, The Lost Forty, and his blog, Northwoods Songs, he explores ties between Ireland and these rich, underexplored songs and stories. At his first visit to Inishowen in 2023 Brian will present on song links between Minnesota and Donegal.

Anne Lamb is from County Durham. She has built a reputation in England's North East clubs, where she is known as 'Houranne'. Her love of folk song began at the age of eighteen when  she was greatly influenced by the singing of the Watersons. Since then her influences have  been the many wonderful singers in her native North East. She now spends time travelling  to festivals and singing weekends, where she can indulge her love of traditional song.

Naoise hails from Ardara in the Gaeltacht region of South West Donegal. He has been involved in sean nós singing since school days, and under the mentorship of Corn Uí Riada winner, Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde. He has attended singing events nationwide and been a prize winner at competitions both at regional and national level, including Corn Áine Eoghain Éamainn at the Oireachtas. Naoise has performed, broadcast and given workshops in Ireland and internationally. He made his first trip to Inishowen in 2022 when his passion  for, and commitment to Irish language song, immediately inspired an invitation to return as a guest in 2023.

Michael is one of the most innovative and dynamic guitarists in traditional music and his unique versions of old Irish songs have earned him the respect of music lovers far and wide. Michael lived for many years in London and Paris playing with many of the leading musicians including the legendary fiddler Sean Maguire, Tom Byrne Dinny McLaughlin, Seamus Maguire and Sean Lee. Now living in his home town of Buncrana he enjoys frequent singing and music sessions with many local singers and musicians in and around Inishowen.

Alice Gallanagh is a singer and fiddle player from Buncrana, Co. Donegal. Alice was introduced to the traditional music of Inishowen under the tuition of Roisín Mc Grory and Dinny Mc Laughlin. Alice became immersed in the singing tradition through her father Michael Gallanagh and later the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle.

Kathy Hobkirk is a singer of traditional songs and ballads. A native of Ayr, she has lived in Hawick in the Scottish Borders for a guid few years. Her repertoire includes everything from Burns to Muckle Sangs which she delivers in a thoughtful and measured style. Kathy has visited Inishowen on many occasions, and we are delighted to shine a light on her songs as a guest in 2023. 

Inishowen Trad Community Choir was formed in 2022 by singers involved in the ITMP Trad Orchestra performances in 2022. Led by Lorna McLaughlin (The Henry Girls) and supported by Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle, this is a Peninsula & hinterland gathering of singers young and not so young, to perform arranged & unison versions of local traditional Inishowen songs. 

Bredgeen and Brónach Harkin from the Isle of Doagh are granddaughter and great-granddaughter of the renowned Isle singer, the late Denis McDaid. Denis sang with a rich local ‘Isle style’ and possessed a wide and varied repertoire of songs. This legacy passed, at first hand to his granddaughter Bredgeen and in turn to Brónach, who has also inherited Denis’s musical talent. In the 2023 ‘One Singer One Song’ workshop both women will sing, discuss and explore songs learned from Denis in the company of song researcher John Moulden.

Len Graham is a national treasure within the Irish song tradition. He has championed the role of the solo voice and the richness of the Ulster repertoire in both formal and informal performance settings. An award winning performer, recording artist, researcher/publisher, he has dedicated his life to bringing traditional song to worldwide audiences with integrity, and professionalism. In recognition of the special place some singers hold for our community, we instigated the Guest for Life Accolade. This has been held by the late Mick Quinn (Armagh), Dublin singer Luke Cheevers, and has now been bestowed on our friend and loyal supporter Len Graham.

Maurice Leyden is a folk-song collector, singer, broadcaster and writer with a passion for Ulster folk-song. Originally from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, his first book ‘Belfast, City of Song’ (Brandon) explores the traditional songs of the city which has been his home for many years. His research for the Belfast book revealed a wealth of children’s songs and street lore and Maurice’s second book presents a rich collection children’s singing games, ‘Boys and Girls Come out to Play’ (Apple tree). Both books are complemented by recordings of selected songs.

Maurice is much in demand as a lecturer and authority on Ulster folk-song and contributed to ‘The Companion to Irish Traditional Music’ edited by Fintan Vallely (Cork University Press) and ‘Irish People Irish Linen’ by Kathleen Curtis Wilson (Ohio University Press). In 2008 Maurice was invited to give a lecture on his collection of Linen songs at the Library of Congress in Washington.

A familiar voice on the airwaves, Maurice presented a weekly folk-music programme ‘Folkal Point’ for 14 years on Downtown Radio. He is a regular performer at folk events, collaborating with his wife Jane Cassidy to stage theatrical presentations combining local history and folk-song. In 1995 Maurice and Jane released a CD featuring songs and readings from their acclaimed show about the life and times of Mary Ann McCracken. Maurice also released a solo album in 2016 entitled ‘The Tern and the Swallow’.

Maurice and Jane’s most recent release is an album of ‘Linen Songs’ featuring 17 songs drawn from his extensive collection of songs associated with the Ulster Linen Industry.

ulsterfolksong.com

We are especially delighted to feature songs and singing in a unique workshop setting with researcher John Moulden. John is recognised nationally and internationally as an expert in traditional song, having published & presented for decades on many aspects of the tradition. This workshop will feature songs performed and contextualised by singers Bredgeen and Brónach Harkin and then reviewed within the wider song tradition by John. The event will be recorded and with notes made available as a workshop learning package.