Áine, born in Co Donegal, grew up in Kilbaha, Co. Clare, and began, with her friends, learning traditional music on the tin whistle, taught by her father, Jim Connolly. Although a piano player with a background in showbands and jazz, he was encouraged by Comhaltas members to teach traditional Irish music in the locality as it had all but died out there. When she was ten, she was given a classical flute and was encouraged to follow the classical route of music education. Her dad’s friends in the Limerick classical music scene helped open that door for her.

She studied at the Limerick School of Music, completing Grades 3 to 8 of the ABRSM. During that time, and afterward, she gained valuable experience playing with local amateur orchestras and concert bands, and at national level with the first National Youth Wind Band. It was during this classical and concert band period in the 1980s that she met the love of her life, Matt Heslin — then a clarinet and saxophone player. They married in 1986.

After a few years living in the UK, she completed an LTCL in performance in the early 1990s before deciding on a return to traditional music. When they moved back to Ireland in 1993, she recorded her first album of traditional music (on cassette!) *Breaking Ground* in 1994. Over the years she has performed widely across Clare, Galway, and Limerick, often alongside some of the finest West Clare musicians — including Tom Carey, Peadar Crotty, Pete Haugh, Bill McNamara, Christy Heaney, and Martin Noel Tubridy — as well as North Clare’s Jimmy Clancy. She learned so much from playing with these great musicians, and remembers them with deep gratitude.

In 2004, she completed a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the University of Limerick — an experience that deepened her knowledge, confidence, and motivation to explore new creative directions.

Since 2011, she has focused on composing, with the support and encouragement of her husband Matt, their family, and many musical friends. To date, she has written over 130 tunes and has released two albums of original compositions, along with a published tune book featuring 53 of those tunes.

She continues to perform regularly with Matt, who now sings and plays guitar, often alongside friends Orla Coughlan and Mairéad Considine — both of whom have inspired tunes in her collection. Over the past five years, she has also performed with Paddy Mulcahy and Lenka Fairy in their band Los Paddys, which has expanded her repertoire into new styles while keeping traditional music at the heart of what she does. Matt has since joined them, and together they have toured across Europe — an experience that inspired her tune *Trip to Lithuania*.

They thoroughly enjoy weekly sessions in Co Clare that allow them to connect with local musicians and those visiting from all corners of the world! Indeed, during the Covid Lockdown, Matt and Áine live-streamed a half hour of tunes and songs once a week for 85 weeks and created an international community through their music!

Now, with Matt recently retired and their four children grown, they are looking forward to exploring new musical horizons.

For more information see Áine’s website.