Tá An Droichead thar a bheith sásta Féile na bliana seo a oscailt leis an bheirt mháistir seo Ó Lionáird & Cooney.

Renowned two-time Grammy nominee Iarla Ó Lionáird is best known for his unmistakable voice and distinctive sean nós style as part of the stunningly successful group The Gloaming. Born and bred in Cúil Aodha, in the West Cork Gaeltacht, with Seán Ó Riada as neighbour and an indisputable early influence. Twice Grammy nominated, Ó Lionáird has worked with a stellar cast of composers internationally. His unique singing style has carried him to stages and concert halls all over the world, from New York’s Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House and beyond and the silver screen also, with film credits extending from ‘The Gangs of New York’ to ‘Hotel Rwanda’ and most recently as featured singer in the film ‘Brooklyn’ starring Saoirse Ronan.

Steve Cooney has been described by the Irish Times as a ‘musical polymath’ and is best known for his development of an influential style of guitar accompaniment to traditional Irish dance music, for which he won the National Entertainment Award in 1997. He came to Ireland from Australia in 1980 and maintains his connections with the Aboriginal culture there, into which he was initiated. Seamus Heaney wrote at the Fiddler’s Green Festival in Rostrevor: ‘Master Cooney restores the ancient link between lyre and lyric, between poetry and performance, the rhapsody and rascality’. “Magnificently expressive.” The New York Times