The Weaving

Méabh Begley (accordion) and Owen Spafford (fiddle) are joined by Kyle Macaulay (guitar) for their 2024 UK tour. This trio brings together the rich musical traditions of three counties Kerry, Donegal and Yorkshire, their three regions of origin. Their music is imbued with the driving rhythms of the Gaeltacht of West Kerry where they first met; fierce dance music and raw harmonies inspired by a deep understanding of their musical inheritance. The trio have performed across Ireland, France and the UK in venues such as The National Concert Hall, Paris Centre Culturel Irlandais and Sidmouth Folk Festival.

Méabh Begley is a singer, songwriter and musician whose musical expression
and stylings are deeply rooted within the Irish music, language and song tradition
of her homeplace of Corca Dhuibhne, the Gaeltacht of West Kerry, Ireland. A
native Irish speaker, Méabh was born into the renowned musical family of the
Begleys whose undeniable influence has helped in shaping her energetic
instrumental playing, emotive and sensitive singing style as well as inspired her
development of, and transition into her passion for composing and songwriting.
Méabh has enjoyed a full time career in traditional Irish music thus far and has
performed both nationally and internationally in countries such as Japan, Taiwan,
America, Canada, Russia and across Europe with groups such as acclaimed Irish
band Téada, The Pure Irish Drops (The Women of Ireland- The Next Generation),
Cuas, Catherine Young Dance, Irish Christmas in America and “Aisling? – An Ród
Romhainn” directed by Darach Mac an Iomaire.

Owen Spafford is a fiddle player and composer from Leeds. Owen has performed
for the leaders of the commonwealth states, toured with Giffords Circus and has
received a scholarship to study composition at the Royal Academy of Music.
Owen is also an All-Britain Fiddle Champion in the Fleadh Cheoil na Breataine,
BBC Young Composer Competition nominee and has studied with Sam Amidon
and John Dipper. Equally at home in a traditional session as he is in a free
improvisation workshop, Spafford’s understanding of the oral tradition and love
for vernacular music from around the world enables an inventive and thoughtful
fiddle style. In 2022 Owen released a debut album with guitarist Louis Campbell which Martin Hayes described as “a beautiful, moody and tasteful recording that
defies classification. The arrangements and playing are truly subtle and the
sounds are pristine.”

Kyle Macaulay is a guitarist from Ramelton Co. Donegal. Playing guitar from an
early age, he soon developed an interest in traditional music and began to hone
his accompaniment skills. He has performed with the late great Seamus Begley,
released an album with Nicole Ní Dhubhshláine and currently works as Executive
Assistant for the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin.