From Master fiddle player and TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year recipient Seán Keane, to up-and-coming teenage piping sensation Sorcha Ní Scolaí, this recital promises to excite and dazzle. Keane will be joined by uilleann piper Pádraic Mac Mathúna, these performers love of West Clare music will be reflected in their sweet yet driven playing with sensitive accompaniment from Noel O’Grady on bouzouki. Music on the evening will be interspersed with spoken word from the ITMA Liam O’Flynn Collection delivered by Stephen Rea.

Sorcha Ní Scolaí will open the recital with repertoire inspired by Liam O’Flynn including his version of the celebrated descriptive piece “The Fox Chase”. 13 year old Ní Scolaí is an All-Ireland winning uilleann piper and sean nós singer from Drumcondra in Dublin.  Sorcha began learning the pipes at the behest of her grandfather, Séamus Mac Mathúna, who was a co-founder of Na Píobaií Uilleann (NPU) and the Willie Clancy Summer School. She attends classes at NPU under the watchful eye of Emmett Gill and Fionnán Mac Gabhann.

Pádraic Mac Mathúna plays a Coyne set of uilleann pipes bestowed to him by Liam O’Flynn who in turn was gifted the set by Séamus Ennis. When Ennis was asked why he gifted this set to O’Flynn he replied “because he could play them!” Pádraic was immersed in music from a young age, his father Ciaran was a broadcaster and collector of music and his mother Dolly MacMahon was a singer. Pádraic was a regular visitor to the Willie Clancy Summer School both as a student and in later years as a teacher. His recordings include a solo album Blas na Meala released by Gael Linn in 1992.

Seán Keane This is a rare opportunity to hear one of the giants of Irish traditional fiddle play in such an intimate setting. Keane, a long-term member of The Chieftains, was also a trusted playing partner of Liam O’Flynn. His solo recordings Gusty’s Frolicks (1975) and Jig it in Style (1990) mark him out as one of Ireland’s truly exceptional soloists. He received the prestigious Traditional Musician of the Year Award at the Gradam Ceoil TG4 in 2004.

Noel O’Grady is a well-known bouzouki player from Mayo who now lives in Co. Clare.  He toured extensively with the group Beginish with whom he recorded two albums. He was also a member of The Good Mixer Band who played a regular weekly session in Camden in the 1980s. Noel has featured on a number of recordings and live performances with many other eminent traditional musicians.

The Liam O'Flynn Series is presented by Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) in association with the National Concert Hall and supported by the Arts Council.