Mike Rafferty was
born in 1926. He grew up in Ballinakill, East Galway in the heart
of a locality steeped in the very best of old-style traditional music.
Mike is an outstanding exponent of the East Galway style of flute playing.
He learned his music from his father, Tom “Barrel” who played
flute and uilleann pipes. Mike emigrated to the United States in 1949
and has appeared at an extensive array of concerts and festivals all over
America including the Smithsonian Institution’s Bicentennial Festival
of American Folklife in 1976 and toured with the Green Fields of America.
Mike has appeared on many recordings and has recorded three albums with
his daughter Mary; "The Dangerous Reel",
"The Old Fireside Music", "The
Road from Ballinakill" and he released his solo CD "Speed
78" in 2004 . Mike has devoted a lifetime to exploring, performing and
teaching traditional Irish music on both sides of the Atlantic. Recently,
he was named Irish Echo's Traditional Musician of the Year.
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Willie Kelly was surrounded by Irish music from an early age. His Roscommon-born father, Joe Kelly, played fiddle and tin whistle in the evenings after work for Willie and his siblings. Willie and his 4 siblings all began music lessons at the local school at the age of 8. In 1982, Willie and his brother Joe began taking lessons from County Limerick fiddler, Martin Mulvihill, who taught in a neighboring town. Mulvihill had a tremendous impact on them and introduced them to other players and musicians in New York. Through Mulvihill they met Galway flute-player Mike Rafferty, who greatly influenced them toward the music of Galway. Rafferty also reinforced the elements of Clare music they had adapted from listening to the Tulla Band and the landmark Clare fiddle duet recording by Paddy Canny and P.J. Hayes. In the late 1980’s, Willie met two other important flute-players: National Heritage Award-winning Galway flutist Jack Coen and Siobhan Moloney, a flute player visiting New York from County Clare, whom Willie married in 1992! Willie learned from playing with all these great musicians and considers it a great privilege to have played with them and known them.
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Mary Rafferty was born in New Jersey. She was actively encouraged to play Irish
music by her father Mike. He provided an environment that nurtured Mary
to learn the music almost by osmosis. She has attained a remarkable level
of virtuosity on flute, tin whistle and accordion placing her in the rare
category of Irish musicians who excel on multiple unrelated instruments.
In addition to recordings with her father, she also has a
solo album "Hand Me Downs". This
recording features many tunes that she learned from her father and he
also joins her on a few tracks. Mary is known for her association with
Irish super-group Cherish The Ladies with whom she spent seven years touring
and recording.
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Dónal
Clancy grew up in the Ring Gaeltacht of Co. Waterford, a place steeped in traditional
music and song. Being born into a musical family (his father Liam, being
one of the legendary Clancy Brothers) he was exposed to Irish music from
an early age. Dónal began his musical career at age 14 performing
in venues around his native Waterford. Since then he has recorded two albums with his father Liam
and cousin Robbie O'Connell and also has appeared on many other recordings by artists such as Kevin
Crawford, Danú, Martin Murray, Mike & Mary Rafferty, Aoife Clancy,
Cherish The Ladies, The Clancy Brothers, Eileen Ivers Band and Solas.
He just recently released his solo CD "Close to Home" on Compass Records. In addition, he put together a compilation CD "Masters of the Irish Guitar" with Shanachie Records featuring Arty McGlynn, John Doyle and many more. Dónal now lives in New York and has recently toured with The Eileen
Ivers Band, The Chieftains, Cathie Ryan, Karan Casey & Niall Vallely,
Clancy O'Connell & Clancy and Solas. He is currently on tour with the
group Danú. He is also married to Mary Rafferty and they have three children.
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