Diarmuid Ó Meachair , Brian McGrath & Michael McCague

Diarmuid Ó Meachair is an Accordion player and sean nós singer from Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork. He is also an accomplished Melodeon player and sean-nós singer. He was recently awarded the prestigious Young Musician of the year award from TG4 for 2022. He is one of the most exciting accordion players of his generation. Diarmuid is part of the teaching staff at the Department of Music in UCC, teaching accordion and melodeon.

A native Irish speaker from Cúil Aodha in the Múscraí Gaeltacht, Diarmuid has won many sean nós singing competitions at the competitive Oireachtas na Samhna, Corn Darach Ó Catháin and Corn Seosamh Ó hÉanaigh especially.

His latest solo album "Melodeon Medleys" was released in July 2023 and his debut album "Siúl na Slí" was released under the Raelach Records label in December 2022 with support from the Arts Council of Ireland and Ealaín na Gaeltachta. In 2023 he was commissioned by "Féile John Dwyer" supported by the Arts Council to compose a suite a music in memory of the great Dwyer family from Beara.

In 2016, Diarmuid won the Senior All Ireland melodeon title at the Fleadh in Ennis at 19 years of age. In 2018, Diarmuid graduated from Mary Immaculate College with a Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education.

As a soloist, Diarmuid has been invited to teach at various festivals such as Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Catskills Irish Arts week, Éigse Dhiarmuid Uí Súilleabháin, Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh, Tunefest Dungarvan, Return to London Town Festival, Birmingham Tradfest and the Meitheal summer school.

In 2023 he was invited to join the latest De Dannan line up by Frankie Gavin. They have played at multiple festivals in Ireland, UK and Europe. In May they performed on The Late Late Show.

Brian McGrath comes from Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, an area steeped in traditional music. Brian’s first professional work was with Dervish. He then joined Four Men And A Dog and played on the award-winning album Barking Mad. He moved his career on, accompanying Noel Hill, Paul Brock and Frankie Gavin, among others, before joining the Sean Keane Band as pianist. Brian joined De Dannan where he stayed till the band broke up in 2003. Brian now plays with At The Racket, and is much sought after as a session musician on piano, banjo and mandolin. He has toured extensively, playing with all the biggest names in Irish traditional music, including Frankie Gavin, Noel Hill, John Carty, Matt Molloy, Paul Brock, Charlie Lennon, Joe Burke, Sean Maguire, Brian Rooney, Cathal Hayden, Joe Derrane, Arty McGlynn, Alec Finn, Alan Kelly, Dolores Keane, Maura O’Connell, Tommy Fleming, Steve Cooney and Eleanor Shanley, as well as doing extensive TV and media work.

Michael Mc Cague has been an Irish traditional music accompanist since his late teenage years on bouzouki and guitar, having played traditional fiddle and banjo from early childhood.

He has played, recorded and toured with Matt Molloy, Sean Keane, Frankie Gavin, John Carty, Brian Rooney, Tommy Peoples, and his brother Donal on fiddle. In 2006 he joined John Carty’s “At The Racket” with whom he recorded their third album, “It’s Not Racket Science”. In 2009 Michael also joined John Mc Sherry and Donal O'Connor in their highly successful outfit “At First Light”, touring and performing regularly throughout Ireland and Europe.

A short time later Mc Cague was sought out to play the bouzouki role in the “Tribute to The Bothy Band”, alongside Michael Mc Goldrick, John McSherry and Cathy Jordan. He has also regularly deputised on guitar with the prolific outfit Teada.

2014 saw him bring his own unique project, “The Waylaid Man”, into the public sphere, showcasing a collection of Michael's original compositions. The recording features an array musicians including John McSherry, Nollaig Casey, Brian McGrath, Oisin Mc Diarmada and brother Dónal Mc Cague.

More recently he recorded on “Ceolaire”, a concertina debut album of Hugh Healy, “The Wavy Bow Collection” from father and son duet, John and James Carty, and “At Our Leisure” by John Carty and Michael McGoldrick.Since 2021 he has played in concert with Matt Molloy and John Carty and also in a one off performance with “The Chieftains” pairing, Sean Keane & Matt Molloy at the Return To London Town festival, 2021.