Continuing our film series “The ICC Seisiúns” we are so proud to present the Irish trad family band, The Connollys, in conversation and performance. Featuring maestro of the accordion, Gary Connolly with his wife, the amazing fiddler, Teresa Connolly, along with their two children, the gifted, multi instrumentalists and both ‘All Ireland’ and ‘All Britain’ Irish music champions, Ben Connolly, (age 16) and Ella Connolly (age 13).
Having grown up in London playing Irish music at Sessions and Ceili’s, Gary and Teresa have both been at the beating heart of London’s Irish trad music scene for many decades. In this concert you will witness how they have so sensitively and beautifully passed the music onto their children. It’s inspirational to see a family so connected to their heritage and to watch them play together. The music is simply sublime. Enjoy!
About Gary Connolly:
Born into a musical Connemara family (his father, Pat Connolly, is the acclaimed‘All-Ireland Sean-nós singer from Gleann Catha) Gary began playing accordion at the age of twelve, under the tutelage of County Leitrim teacher, Tommy Maguire. Gary has performed at The Return to London Town Festival, he’s appeared on Irish Television (TG4), he was co-founder of ‘The Auld Triangle Ceili Band’ and he regularly played with his wife, Teresa in the ‘Grasna na nGael Ceili Band’ at The Irish Cultural Centre.
About Teresa Connolly
Teresa Connolly (nee Heanue) has been playing Irish music since she was a young girl. Every Summer she’d travel from London to Galway, where she’d play music with her uncle, aunt and cousins. She’s won three ‘All Ireland’ titles, the first at the age of 12. Years later she became a member of the acclaimed folk fusion band Sin é, recording two albums and touring the UK, Europe and the USA. Teresa appeared alongside the great Irish fiddler Tommy Peoples on ‘The Pure Drop’ (RTE). She also toured North America, for two years, playing fiddle in Michael Flatley’s hit show ‘Lord of the Dance’ and she performed in ‘Riverdance’ at London’s Apollo Theatre.
About Ben Connolly
16-year-old Ben is a multi-instrumentalist, who plays flute, whistle, piano, fiddle and uilleann pipes. In 2018 he played flute on his grandad Pat Connolly’s recent Sean-nós album. Ben has won ‘The All Ireland music champion’ in Flute and he’s played with John and James Carty at The Birmingham Trad Fest 2019.
About Ella Connolly 13-year-old Ella is a fiddler, harpist, traditional singer and a classical violinist. She’s won ‘The All Britain’ title for fiddle playing 5 years in a row; she played on her grandad Pat Connolly’s Sean-nós album and performed at the album launch at The Return to London Town Festival.
