caoimhín ó raghallaigh

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biography

Dublin born fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh performs in small, intimate listening venues, creating a sense of magic, and quirky, unique soundscapes where Irish traditional music meets Old-Time fiddling and a Scandinavian feel for sound.

He has recently recorded with and performed with artists such as Iarla Ó Lionáird, Liam Ó Maonlaí and The Waterboys. With wild West Kerry accordionist Breanndán Begley he toured the USA in September 2007 and Ireland in May 2007.

Born in 1979, Caoimhín grew up listening to old vinyls of The Chieftains, Planxty and The Bothy Band. He started playing fiddle at the age of 10, also learning the uilleann pipes, flute and whistle. He worked at the Irish Traditional Music Archives for a number of years, immersing himself in old recordings of Willie Clancy, Denis Murphy, Paddy Cronin and Seamus Ennis.

In 2003 he released Kitty Lie Over to great acclaim with uilleann piper Mick O'Brien. Chosen as #1 Traditional Album of 2003 by Earle Hitchner in the Irish Echo, and described in The Irish Times as "a niftier mood enhancer than any drug therapy" by Siobhán Long, this has become one of the all-time best-loved traditional music albums.

Recent performances include a Music Network sponsored tour of Ireland, Farmleigh House, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Celtic Connections, and West Cork Music. Upcoming performances include another performance for West Cork Music, St. Finbarr's Cathedral, tours of the USA, Finland and Brittany, and a Music Network tour of Ireland in January 2008.

caoimhin o raghallaigh press quotes



"The masterful fingering and bowing technique
presenting what sounds like an orchestration
of fiddles, reedy, an older feel,
pin dropping silence..."


Irish Music Magazine June 2007



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