Mairtin O’Connor Trio (Ireland)
Legendary accordion player Mairtin O’Connor, a primary musical force behind the Riverdance phenomenon and famed for his work in Ireland with De Dannan, Midnight Well and Skylark, formed a formidable trio in 2001 with Cathal Hayden and Seamie O’Dowd. Fiddle and banjo player Cathal was a founding member of Four Men and A Dog, and a multiple All-Ireland Championship winner on his instruments. Guitarist/singer Seamie O’Dowd, whose wide array of acoustic and electric work is rooted deeply in the traditional music of Country Sligo, toured the world for many years with Sligo trad legends Dervish. He also played extensively with Liam O'Flynn, Matt Molloy and Mary McPartlan. Cathal and Seamie’s collaboration with Mairtin created a veritable power trio of Irish traditional music, causing a sensation since they first performed together at a gig in Sligo town, organised in memory of Dervish sound engineer Fin Corrigan. Their musical rapport and sympathy was instant, which has encouraged them to stretch beyond obvious traditional material and embrace a fresh strain of Celtic music. The sum of their instrumental powers have launched traditional Irish music into full flight, evident on their 2008 album Crossroads that runs from their original compositions to covering a Rory Gallagher song.
By arrangement with Seamus Finneren
Website: www.myspace.com/mairtinoconnorband