From the wild west of Ireland, we are beyond excited to welcome the incredibly talented Alannah Thornburgh to the TSEAC stage! Celebrating her brand new album, Alannah will enchant us with her mesmerizing songs in this spectacular double headliner show. Sharing the stage with the renowned bouzouki virtuoso Macdara Ó Faoláin, this evening promises to be a feast for the senses.

More About the Artists:

Alannah Thornburgh is an award-winning instrumentalist and composer from the wild west of Ireland with a focus on traditional Irish harp. Alannah’s music explores her family heritage, reimagining melodies from the Irish harping and American folk & jazz traditions. This cross-genre interaction and juxtaposition of old melodies with contemporary harmonies and technique is interwoven throughout her music, described as being ‘unforced, fluid and utterly at home in her own sound’ (The Irish Times). In February 2025, Alannah released her debut album ‘Shapeshifter’ - a collection of compositions inspired by fairy folklore & mythology in rural Ireland, specifically her native Co. Mayo (“Sublime debut from Mayo composer” 9/10 - Hot Press).

Alannah was awarded ‘Best Folk Instrumentalist’ at the 2025 RTÉ Folk Awards. She featured on an RTÉ 1 Documentary ‘A Note for Nature’ in collaboration with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, performing her interpretation of a Conor Walsh composition ‘One Swallow’. Her compositions have featured on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta podcast series ‘Scéalta’. In 2024, Alannah was awarded the Mayo Artist Bursary, the Harp Ireland Tyrone Guthrie Centre Residency and the Music Network Lullaby Residency. Alannah is also a recipient of the Arts Council’s Next Generation Award 21/22.

Alannah is a founding member of Alfi, a trio who combine traditional Irish and Appalachian music and song, winners of the 2020 US Embassy Creative Minds Award. Alfi released their debut album ‘Say Old Man’ in July 2023 to great critical acclaim - ‘the album captures the organic, full-bodied spirit of their live shows, as well as the distinctive personalities of the players – and marks Alfi as a vital force in Ireland’s ever-diversifying folk scene’ (Hot Press). Alannah has performed, recorded & collaborated with many artists in the folk & traditional music scene including Anna Mieke, Brían Mac Gloinn (Ye Vagabonds), Lemoncello & Laura Quirke, Joshua Burnside, Macdara Ó Faoláin, Stephen Doherty, Loah, Niamh Bury, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Brigid Mae Power, Jiggy, David Keenan, Tristan Scroggins, Paddy McKeown, Conor Caldwell, Shamrock Showband and Varo.

Macdara Ó Faoláin Bio

Macdara Ó Faoláin is a bouzouki player 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." Aer years of building an impressive discography as an accompanist, Macdara released a solo EP titled Do Shamhlaigh Mé Tír Nua... in May of this year. This was a prelude to his debut album Ar Thaobh Chill an Fhuarthainn, which will be released in January 2025. Both the EP and the album are produced by composer and pianist Cormac McCarthy. Nós praised the EP as "A Beautiful Emotive Journey". Recently named the Young Musician of the Year by TG4, Macdara is solidifying his place as a significant figure in the world of traditional Irish music.