Aoife Fadian, The McGrath Brothers, Emmett Gill, Aoife Nic Lochlainn

The late Billy Finn was a native of Kilkenny who spent much of his adult life as a secondary school teacher in Ballyshannon, where he was a founding member of the local Phil Rooney Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

This year’s Billy Finn Sessions will once again see a stellar cast of local and internationally renowned traditional musicians. The young McGrath Brothers, Oisín and Mícheál of Ballyshannon, have achieved All Ireland Fleadh success as a fiddle and banjo duet. They will be joined by their friend Dáthí Sheerin on accordian, to open the concert.

Aoife Fadian from nearby Sligo is an uilleann piper and pupil of Leonard Barry. Working with Leonard, Aoife has rapidly developed into a piper of considerable talent. Her gift was acknowledged when she was invited recently by Na Píobairí Uilleann to be a featured performer at their annual Abbeyleix concert.

Also featured on the night will be uilleann pipes and fiddle duet, Emmett Gill and Aoife Nic Lochlainn. Emmett is one of the most sought after uilleann pipers of today having performed on stages internationally and including a command performance at the JFK Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington. Aoife Nic Lochlainn is a fiddler from Falcarragh and a pupil of the late Francie Mooney.