Ulaid - McSherry, O'Connor, Graham

Ulaid
John McSherry (Uilleann Pipes), Dónal O’Connor (Fiddle) & Séan Óg Graham (Guitar)

When three of traditional music’s leading lights collaborate on a new CD you can expect sparks to fly!!
John McSherry and Dónal O’Connor are the creative force behind the highly innovative traditional band At First Light which has toured the world extensively and produced some of the most influential albums in Irish music today. Sean Óg Graham is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest accompanists and has been touring and recording with the hugely successful and dynamic group Beoga. All three are currently living in County Antrim in the North East of Ireland, and it was inevitable that their musical paths would cross. Together they have produced an outstanding new album of music which they are touring in Oct/Nov 2015.
This creative and compelling trio will take you on an emotive and uplifting musical journey, from Ireland to the neighbouring Celtic regions and they will chart the path from the ancient music of the Gael to the modern face of traditional Irish music today!

John McSherry has been a major figure in Irish music for almost twenty years now and is hailed as one of the finest exponents of the art of Uilleann Piping in the world today -- "a true master" -- Irish Music Magazine. A founder member of top traditional bands Lúnasa, Tamalin and Donal Lunny's ground-breaking super group Coolfin in the 1990’s, John has subsequently produced an array of critically acclaimed and innovative albums, both solo and collaborative, and continues to push the boundaries of Irish music with his current bands At First Light and The Olllam. He is a composer, producer, arranger and an established studio session musician of international renown, recording and performing with a myriad of artists including Clannad, Sinéad O'Connor, Rod Stewart, Nanci Griffiths, Gary Kemp and The Corrs.

Son of the celebrated fiddler Gerry O’Connor and revered singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin of Lá Lugh, multi-instrumentalist Dónal O’Connor is establishing himself as one of Ireland’s leading producers. As a musician and composer he has played and recorded with the likes of Grainne Holland, Moya Brennan, Steve Cooney, Mary
Dillon, Cathal McConnell, Bob Brozman, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, John Spillane, Lumiere and Barry Kerr. Having inherited a musical legacy of at least five generations of fiddle playing he has toured the world from a young age as both a lead and backing instrumentalist with a number of bands including Lá Lugh, more recently At First Light, and the Irish song super group A Stór Mo Chroí. He has composed music for theatre, television and film and has presented music shows for BBC ALBA, BBC NI, TG4, BBC Radio Ulster and Raidio na Gaeltachta. “O’Connor’s winning blend of pace and lyricism transmits his enthusiasm for the music directly to the listener with irresistible impact” – Herald Scotland

Seán Óg Graham is a renowned guitar and accordion player and has performed and recorded with many of Irish traditional music's top artists over the last 10 years. He is a founding member of the highly successful band Beoga with whom he has recorded 5 albums and toured worldwide. He is also a talented arranger and composer and more than 50 of his works are featured in the Beoga repertoire. He is also a member of the Scottish super group Fiddler’s Bid. He is in high demand as an accompanist and has performed and recorded with Grammy nominated fiddler Liz Carroll, top folk singer Karan Casey, Buille, Flook, Lunasa, Máirtin O'Connor Band, and The Cora Smyth Band. Seán Óg is a first class Honours graduate of the Limerick based Irish World Academy of Music.