Diarmuid Ó Meachair with Matt Mulqueen - Traditional Irish Accordion and Piano

Doors Open at 6:30, Concert at 7:00

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 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. He has released 3 solo albums since December 2022. His second solo album “”Melodeon Medleys”” was released in July 2023 and his debut album “”Siúl na Slí”” was released under the Raelach Records label 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 of music in memory of the great Dwyer family from the Beara Peninsula. 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.

Matt Mulqueen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, into a musical family. His older brothers played button accordion and fiddle, and his sister became a champion step-dancer. This environment instilled in Matt an irresistible desire to learn and play Irish traditional music. His first music instruction came in the second grade when he joined the boys choir at his elementary school. At age nine, Matt asked his parents if he could learn to play the piano. He began with group piano lessons at a local community college. From there, he progressed to private lessons in Irish and Classical music with Donna Long, who has been the greatest influence on Matt's playing. Listening to the host of traditional musicians who haunt Irish pubs and to innumerable recordings allowed Matt to forge his own compelling style of accompanying Irish music. Matt returns to the Lyceum, having performed with Lexi Boatright and Cara Wildman in 2022.

Light refreshments will be available with wine, beer and non-alcholic drinks available for purchase.

Links:

Diarmuid O Meachair Accordion Music

Traditional Music Series Info