Meet our incredible performers
Discover the heart of Cuisle Cheoil Weekend through the gifted individuals who make our festival truly special. Learn about the master musicians who will share their passion and talent with you.
John Wynne & Tom Morrow
John Wynne and Tom Morrow are highly acclaimed exponents of the North Connaught style, an area renowned for fiddle/flute duets. John Wynne is Roscommon-born while Tom Morrow is from County Leitrim.. They have performed together many times as a duet since the 1990's. Tom Morrow is a member of the renowned traditional group, Dervish, which has resulted in him travelling widely to preform.
Apart from their qualities as performers, they are much in demand as tutors at festivals and Cuisle Cheoil will feature them in the weekend workshops.
John Wynne will be returning to Wexford in January 2027 with the full band Gatehouse for a concert at the WexTrad Weekend to promote the soon-to-be-released third album.
Daithi Gormley & Elaine Reilly
Elaine Reilly from Longford & Daithí Gormley from Sligo are among the most respected and distinctive musicians in Irish traditional music today. Admired for their authenticity, lift, and musical depth, each has earned widespread acclaim for their artistry, deep knowledge of the tradition, and commitment to preserving and advancing the music they love.
They both produced excellent solo recordings - 'Fiddling without a bow - Irish traditional music on button accordion' (Daithi in 2018) and 'Epiphany' (Elaine - 2024). Elaine joined with Daithi, Oisin MacDiarmaida and Samantha Harvey to tour as Lane to the Glen late last year and they were welcome visitors to the inaugural WexTrad Weekend in early 2026 where they were tutors, concert performers (with Lane to the Glen) and treated us to memorable session-trail performances. Recently married, they have just released a much anticipated first duet album in June 2026.
Gary Curley & Stephen McKee
Representing the much-loved Ulster style of traditional music , Gary Curley from Fermanagh and Stephen McKee from Derry together play straight, honest music characterised by great drive. The term 'chunky' has become popular among young musicians for this effortless yet incredibly accomplished music. The duo have just recently produced a must-have album of their music 'Chunky Business' to great acclaim.
The pair bring an incredible rapport and seamless duet playing honed through considerable fleadh successes over the years, along with numerous TV appearances. Both are multi-instrumentalists - Gary playing melodeon and concertina in addition to button accordion and Stephen playing fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Ryan O'Donnell (featured below) was one of the accompanying musicians on 'Chunky Business'
Tracy Ryan & Ryan O'Donnell
Tracy Ryan and Ryan O'Donnell are a husband-and-wife traditional Irish music duo based near Newport in County Tipperary. Originally from Newport, Tracy provides vocals, flute, and whistle. Ryan O'Donnell is from Omagh in County Tyrone and is a sought-after multi-instrumentalist who plays bouzouki, banjo, and guitar. He has performed on over a dozen albums. In early 2026 , they released their debut collaborative album, Fairy Island, featuring stunning traditional songs and a selection of Ryan’s wonderful original tunes. They have been travelling promoting the album and will perform at both their own CD Launch Event at the Cuisle Cheoil, while Ryan will accompany Gary Curley and Stephen McKee in the weekend's main event - the Recital in Christchurch in Gorey. Tracy will join the trio as a guest vocalist on the night.
Robert & James Harvey
Brothers Robert and James Harvey from County Laois are acclaimed and highly accomplished performers and teachers within Irish traditional music.
Banjo and mandolin player, James Harvey studied Irish Music at the Irish World Academy of music graduating with first class honours in 2012. He is a multiple All-Ireland Fleadh champion and recorded four studio albums with the band Goitse. He is currently working as a secondary school music teacher, teaches in ‘Peter Dee’s Academy of Music’, Limerick and is in demand at festivals throughout the world as a tutor.
Flute player Dr. Robert Harvey was seven times All-Ireland Champion. In 2020, Robert released his critically acclaimed solo flute album ‘Feochán’. As a member of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, he has featured in the shows Boroimhe, Macalla 1916, Legacy and Oriel Wave. Robert currently lectures in Irish music in Trinity College Dublin, and is a well-established teacher of flute, tin whistle, whistling and lilting and is in demand as a teacher and guest lecturer at festivals and workshops having taught at Scoil Eigse.
In 2025, the brothers released their first duet album, The Lads of Laois, focusing on music from the O'Moore County.
The Templehouse Trio
The wonderful Templehouse Trio are Séamus Meehan - accordion, Roma Casey - fiddle and Mary Corcoran - keyboard. They have recently returned to playing for set dancing. They are three members of the original and renowned Templehouse Céilí Band who at their height were the top commercial band performing for sets during the set dancing revival of the 1980's. They are a joy to dance to or simply to sit and listen to their wonderful dance music.