Paddy Glackin & Noel Hill + Macdara Ó Faoláin

About Paddy Glackin

Since the early 1970’s Paddy Glackin has been regarded as one of the leading exponents of Irish Traditional  Fiddle playing. Born and reared in Dublin he studied classical music at the College of Music but it was through his father Tom that he came learn and explore the world of Irish traditional fiddle playing. As a young fiddle player he was exposed to the music of Sligo through playing at sessions in Dublin with flautist John Egan and a host of other musicians from the North Connacht area. However his major inspiration was the legendary Donegal fiddler John Doherty whom Paddy met as a ten year old at the Reelin Bridge in 1964. Doherty opened up a new world of tunes and technique that inspires him to this day.

Over many years he has functioned mostly as a soloist and collaborating with other musicians such as John Regan, Liam O Flynn, Micheal O Domhnaill ,Robbie Hannan and Donal Lunny. He is in regular demand to perform at concerts and festival across Europe. He was a founding member of the Bothy Band and was also a member of Ceoltoiri Laighean, LAPD and more recently Ushers Island. His other  musical collaborations have brought him into the world of contemporary 20th century music working with composers John Cage and more recently Terri Riley.

Paddy was an influential broadcaster and presented such pioneering programmes as The Long Note on RTE Radio1 and the Pure Drop, He was the first Traditional Music officer of the Arts Council and held a number of senior editorial positions in RTE until 2012.

Paddy is excited to be performing in the company of Noel Hill at The Irish Cultural Centre. He and Noel have a long association going back to the seventies and share a huge interest and curiosity  the music of players such s Micho Russell Dennis Murphy and Tony McMahon.  

About Noel Hill

Noel Hill, born in Caherea, West County Clare, grew up in a family where the concertina was a cherished tradition. His parents, grandparents, and uncle, Padraig A Chnoic (Paddy Hill), were all concertina players, and his childhood home was the last in the area to host traditional Irish house dances. These gatherings provided the backdrop for Noel’s earliest musical experiences, where he absorbed tunes by ear from local players rather than through recordings or books. Starting the concertina at the age of eight, Noel was inspired by the music of Willie Clancy, Paddy Canny, Peter O’Loughlin, and Paddy Murphy, whose influence remains evident in his playing today.

In 1975, Noel co-founded the group Inchiquin, recording one album before pursuing further collaborations. His acclaimed album Noel Hill and Tony Linnane (1978), recorded with Tony Linnane, Matt Molloy, Alec Finn, and Micheál Ó Domhnaill, established him as a leading figure in Irish traditional music. Other notable recordings include Í gCnoc Na Graí (1985, with Tony MacMahon), The Irish Concertina One (1988), and Music of Dreams (1993, with MacMahon and Iarla Ó Lionáird).

Noel has toured extensively, bringing the concertina from the house dances of County Clare to stages around the world. He is also a dedicated teacher, running The Noel Hill Irish Concertina Schools in Ireland and the U.S., inspiring the next generation of players.

“He is to Irish traditional music what WB Yeats was to a generation of Irish poets—a one-in-a-generation player who casts a long shadow.” – Brian O’Connell, The Irish Times

About Macdara Ó Faoláin

Macdara Ó Faoláin is a bouzouki player, fiddle player & singer from An Rinn, Co Waterford, renowned for his innovative approach to traditional Irish music. He is currently focused on composing solo bouzouki pieces that seamlessly blend his deep knowledge of harmony with his traditional roots, drawing inspiration from a wide array of genres. As a native Irish speaker, he is also writing new songs in Irish, contributing to both the preservation and evolution of the language through his music.
Macdara performs regularly with collaborators such as Victoria Adiiye and Cormac McCarthy, and frequently accompanies various musicians within the traditional music scene, having developed a distinctive approach to the Irish bouzouki. He is also a member of a trio with Páraic Mac Donnchadha and Pádraic Keane. Their debut album, Beo, a compilation of live recordings from performances across the country, was hailed by the Irish Echo as “one of the best albums of the past few years.”
After years of building an impressive discography as an accompanist, Macdara released a solo EP titled Do Shamhlaigh Mé Tír Nua… in 2024, serving as a prelude to his debut album Ar Thaobh Chill an Fhuarthainn which was launched in early January with a sold-out release show. Both releases were produced by composer and pianist Cormac McCarthy and showcase Macdara both as a solo musician and as a collaborator with McCarthy, Victoria Adiiye, Conor O’Sullivan, Áine Whelan and more. Do Shamhlaigh Mé Tír Nua… was recently nominated for album of the year by Nós as well as Macdara being nominated for Best Folk Instrumentalist by the RTÉ Folk Awards. Named the Young Musician of the Year by TG4 in 2024, Macdara is solidifying his place as a significant figure in the world of traditional Irish music.