Music

Photo courtesy of Jimmy O'Kelly

I play the bodhrán, a traditional Irish percussion instrument. The story goes that I stole my father’s bodhrán when I was seven and never gave it back. Self-taught, I play in the so-called Kerry style of bodhrán playing which was prevalent on many of the recordings in my parents’ music collection growing up. My playing has featured on several recordings, including flute-player Jimmy Noonan’s The Clare Connection, the Revels North’s A Celtic Feast of Song, and with my brother Patrick and sister Gráinne on a group album. With my siblings, I have performed across the U.S. and Ireland. Most recently, I was a guest musician on my sister’s new solo album, Short Stories, which was released in January 2010.

I also have 5 first-place plastic trophies collecting dust in my parent’s basement for the Mid-Atlantic United States Fleadh Cheoil competition from the years 1991-1995.

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