Ré (pronounced ‘ray’ and meaning ‘moon’ or ‘era’ in Irish) features some of Ireland’s most innovative and decorated musicians. Maitiú Ó Casaide, a Dublin based piper from the esteemed Ó Casaide family, received TG4’s Young Musician of the Year Award 2015. Cormac Begley’s concertina playing has been described as ‘a masterclass in timeless musicianship, Irish Times ****) and in 2014 he received the Sean Ó Riada Award. Eithne Ní Chatháin, a highly celebrated traditional singer and fiddle player from Co. Kildare, is breaking new ground in indie-folk under the alias Inni-K. Founding member of the Hothouse Flowers and revered songwriter and accompanist, Peter O Toole from Dublin adds a depth of musicality and sensitivity to this eclectic group.
Cormac Begley (bass, baritone, treble and piccolo concertinas) Cormac is a concertina player who hails from a well-known musical family on the Dingle Peninsula. Musicians such as his father, Brendan, Tom ‘an Lord’ Ó Conchubhair, Marie McHugh and East Clare musicians have had strong influences on his music. He has recently completed a PhD in Psychology at NUI, Galway, where he researched the pressures experienced by adolescent males growing up in Ireland. In 2014 he was award the prestigious Sean O Riada award for concertina playing. He is the founder of the award winning ‘Tunes in the Church’ live concert series in Galway. To date, he has featured on two highly acclaimed recordings – the first with fellow concertina player, Jack Talty (‘Na Fir Bolg’) and the second, featuring his sister, Clíodhna (viola) and Páraic Mac Donnchadha (banjo) - ‘Tunes in the Church’.)