Fiddle
Date: Saturday 1st February 2025.
Location: Newport National School.
Registration: 9.30am
Workshop: 10am
Diarmuid Gielty
Diarmuid began playing fiddle as one of the first students of the Scoil Acla Summer School revival in 1985. He has been long term member of the Dooagh Pipe Band for and was the chairperson and driving force of Scoil Acla from 2006 until 2017. He was heavily involved in the re-establishment of the Dooagh Fie & Drum Band in 2018. He was an executive producer of a short film entitled ‘Casadh na Taoide’ for the Achill International Harp festival which celebrated the strong links Achill has with Inishboffin, Inisturk, Clare Island and Árainn Mhór off Donegal.
During his time away from Achill Diarmuid played regularly with well-known musicians such as Francie Mooney, Dermot Byrne, Maireád Ní Mhaonaigh, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. Diarmuid has performed at the Achill International Harp Festival collaboration concerts in 2016, 2017 and 2018 playing alongside world class artists including Allan McDonald, Mary MacMaster and Donald Hay (Scotland), Jean-Michel Veillon and Erwan Menguy (Brittany), Anxo Lorenzo, Xabier Diaz (Gallica) and Steve Cooney, (Ireland). Over the years Diarmuid has become an anchor musician and guide for the Wild Atlantic Music tours when they visit Achill, to date he has welcomed Eileen Ivers, John Whelan and Kevin Burke to Achill, organised and joined in sessions with them. He has made numerous appearances playing music and contributing regularly on TG4, RnaG and RTÉ radio and television.”
Jesse Smith
Jesse was born into a musical family in Baltimore, where he was immersed in a thriving Irish music tradition. His mother, Donna Long, has recorded and performed with Brendan Mulvihill and Cherish the Ladies. His dad, John, plays the guitar and sings American music. Jesse started playing the fiddle at an early age, learning from Mulvihill, a renowned fiddle player and teacher.
Jesse has recorded some well-received duet albums and has taught and performed at numerous festivals in Ireland, Europe, and America.
He now lives on Arranmore Island, Co. Donegal. Along with his wife Fiona Ní Ghloinn and her family, he organises Féile Róise Rua, an annual traditional music and singing festival that celebrates the life of Róise Rua or Róise na nAmhrán (1879-1964), one of Ireland's pre-eminent sean nós singers.
