By tradition, the first event of the Riches of Clare free concert season takes place at the Kilfenora Trad Fest – a rare opportunity to experience the interior and acoustics of historic Kilfenora Cathedral. (Dress warmly! Donations in the box for repairs to the Cathedral will be appreciated.) The one-hour performance is at 1pm on Saturday 26 April – the Cathedral is best entered from the lane besides Howley’s shop. As before, some of the finest musicians from or living in Clare are featured.
Siobhán Peoples combines the fiddle traditions of Clare – through her grandmother Kitty Linnane of Kilfenora Céilí Band fame – and Donegal, through her father the renowned Tommy Peoples, with whom she played publicly from an early age. Siobhán is the 2025 recipient of Ireland’s top traditional music award – the Gradam Ceoil – having received Clare’s highest musical honour (MÓRglór) in 2023. Co-organiser of the Ennis Trad Festival, she also teaches widely, most notably at the University of Limerick for over 20 years.
Murty Ryan began playing accordion at 9, influenced by Paddy O’Brien, Willie Fogarty and Joe Burke. Originally from Tipperary but long a mainstay of the music scene in Clare, he began playing with Siobhán in 1996 – they recorded the CD “Time On Our Hands” in 2002. He plays and teaches music in Ireland and internationally.
Flautist Brian O’Loughlin from a renowned Corofin music family is a winner of multiple awards in Fleadh Cheoil competitions – solo, duet and in Céilí bands. He has travelled across Europe performing and teaching. His recordings include 2 CDs with the All-Ireland winning Shandrum Ceili Band; in a trio with Tom Delany and Dessie Kelliher (“Well For Some”); and the O’Loughlin family CD “No Place Like Home” launched at the Kilfenora Festival in 2024.
Conal O’Kane from Philadelphia is a graduate of the Limerick University’s famous Music Performance programs – where now like Siobhán he is a tutor. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known as a skilled guitar accompanist, including on other musicians’ CDs. He also has a busy touring and recording schedule with the band Goitse.
