Acadamh Ceoil Tutors

About us

Moya Sweeney, Co-Ordinator, Acadamh Ceoil

Moya Sweeney is a button accordion player from Trillick, Co. Tyrone. As an accomplished Irish traditional musician and tutor, Moya has performed across Ireland and Europe. While competing in various competitions at county, provincial and All Ireland level, she has achieved an UIster title in 15-18 Button Accordion and All Ireland medals in Céilí Band competitions. Coming from a musical family, Moya has appeared on various television and radio programmes, such as BBC Two’s ‘I Lár an Aonaigh’ and RTE Radio 1’s ‘Céilí House’. As a member of Ulster University Choir, Moya performed in Michael Rooney’s ‘Famine Suite’ at IMBOLC in 2019, while also performing as a member of the IMBOLC Orchestra in 2020, along with Four Men & A Dog. In November 2019, Moya was selected to participate in the Traditional Music Writer Mentoring Scheme, in partnership with The Journal of Music. Here, she was given the opportunity to write review pieces and learn from established editors. Moya has recently graduated from Ulster University with a First-Class Honours in Music and continues to teach and aid young people through Irish traditional music.

Our tutors

Marcella Kelly (Fiddle)

Marcella Kelly, from Ballinascreen County Derry, is an accomplished Irish Traditional musician and tutor. Marcella is currently a tutor at Portglenone CCÉ alongside offering private tuition.

Marcella was first introduced to Irish traditional music when she was 8, where she first started to learn the tin whistle at her local comhaltas classes, before advancing onto the fiddle. As a member of Ceoltoiri Crosskeys group, her music began to flourish through taking part in grúpa ceol and céilí band competitions at fleadh. She also performed in the IMBOLC Youth Orchestra in 2019 under the direction of Ryan Molloy. She can be found playing at weddings across Ireland and gigs in bars both at home and in the Belfast area.

Added to that is her many musical achievements in school. Winning the KS3 music award and in 2021, The Cassidy cup for Traditional Music upon leaving her school St Louis Grammar, Ballymena.

 

 

Orla Corrigan (Fiddle)

Orla Corrigan is a fiddle player from Co. Monaghan. Growing up, the Irish culture was the hub of her daily existence and this was the start of her fulfilling musical journey to becoming an accomplished traditional musician. Orla has achieved many accolades throughout her life. She received Grade 8 Distinctions on both, the fiddle, and the tin whistle with the London School of Music at age 13. She secured her first Ulster Fleadh title at the age of 10 and from then on, her success led to favourable outcomes and opportunities. Orla’s most prestigious awards to date include 2nd Place in the U15 Fiddle competition at the Ulster Fleadh, 3rd Place in the Ed Reavy International Fiddle Competition and 2021 & 2022 Fiddler of London Finalist. She has also been selected to partake in the Ulster Comhaltas Orchestra. Orla is currently in her first year of studying Irish with Music in Ulster University, Magee.

Dearbhla Scallon (Tin Whistle, Flute)

Dearbhla is a singer and musician from County Tyrone. Dearbhla learned to play the whistle and flute from a young age and has competed at All Ireland level. She has won All Ireland titles in Fleadh, Scór and Siansa competitions. Currently, Dearbhla is studying a degree in Irish with Music at the University of Ulster in Derry. She has taught private lessons and workshops for a number of years. Music has provided her with opportunities to appear on televisions and radio, to take part in events and festivals all over Ireland and further afield.

Shannon Duggan (Banjo)

Shannon Duggan is a banjo and mandolin player from the village of Newtowncunningham County Donegal. She started her musical journey on the mandolin at the age of ten then progressed onto the banjo at the age of fourteen. Since then, she has competed in many Fleadhanna and competitions at county, provincial and all Ireland level. She won the senior Ulster mandolin in 2022. She has also completed her grade 8 in banjo.

Shannon has made many radio and TV appearances  including RTÉ's Ceili House with Kieran Hanrahan, RTÉ Radio Na Gaeltachta with Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha, TG4's Réalta agus Gaolta. She has also taken part in many projects with well known musicians/composers such as Aidan O'Rourke and the IMBOLC youth orchestra led by Ryan Molloy in 2020. In the past few years, Shannon has been an active committee member of her local branch Comhaltas Leitir Ceanainn where she has recently taken on the role of Public Relations Officer. She had the opportunity to travel to Denmark to perform in a series of concerts with her branch. Shannon completed her bachelor's degree in music with a first class honours in 2022. She was awarded the Heather Clarke scholarship at Ulster University for achieving the highest mark in her final year performance. She is now studying a Masters in music at Ulster University, focusing on music practice/performance. She is teaching in Donegal and Derry City while actively performing across the province of Ulster and the wider region.

 

Saoirse Barbour (Concertina)

Saoirse Barbour is a Concertina player from Newcastle County Down. Saoirse learnt to play the concertina, flute, whistle, and violin at a young age and has competed at County, Ulster, and All Ireland level both in fleadh and score competitions.
Saoirse is studying music at Ulster University in Derry. She has recently taught private lessons in in the city, as well as her local comhaltas Newcastle CCE. Saoirse’s interest of music began with her great grandad being the founding member of her Comhaltas branch. This inspired and encouraged her to play music, enhanced by her being a festival Irish Dancer.
Saoirse has also taken part in numerous projects including Ceol Cross Community group , Imbolc Folk Orchestra with Martin Tourish and performed on many radio broadcasts such as Radio Na Gaeltacht, BBC Gaelige and BBC foyle radio. Most recently, Saoirse has been accepted on to the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland for the upcoming peace prom concerts.
Saoirse is really looking forward to being a part of the Acadamh Ceoil and to pass on the her love for Irish Traditional Music.
Saoirse has completed her grade 8 in concertina with the London school of music.

Diarmuid O’Kane (Piano)

Diarmuid O’Kane is a performing musician, composer/arranger and educator from Derry. Since graduating from the University of Ulster with a First Class Honours Degree in Music in 2016, Diarmuid has been involved in all things musical from performing in shows for local theatre companies including LMS, the Grove Theatre Group and the Millennium Forum Youth Theatre Company to arranging music for an Elvis Tribute Concert with Jim “The King” Brown. He has worked on shows such as Guys and Dolls, Hairspray, Legally Blonde and Calamity Jane to name a few. Diarmuid is currently a member of the highly successful band, The Mindbenders in which he plays both keyboards and saxophone. The Mindbenders regularly play gigs in Derry and Donegal and also make regular appearances at the City of Derry Jazz Festival, the Cork Jazz Festival and the Letterkenny Jazz and Roots Festival. The Mindbenders also regularly perform in towns and cities up and down the island of Ireland such as Belfast, Galway, Dublin and Sligo to name a few. These gigs range from bars, weddings, festivals and theatre gigs. Diarmuid is also a member of the Pop-Folk band LORE. LORE recently were invited out to Folk Alliance International which took place in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. This is the world's largest conference and gathering of Folk Music each year. With help from Culture Ireland, LORE were able to travel to, attend and perform at the prestigious conference.

John Goodman (Drums)

John Goodman is a drummer and percussionist from Derry, who has played in various punk bands, funk outfits and orchestral ensembles. In the last few years, John has enjoyed playing in a range of theatrical performances, with the most recent productions including Hairspray, Legally Blonde and Edges. He has just returned from touring Germany with James Bond Live, and is excited to return to teaching drums and percussion to young musicians in the making.

Saoirse Duggan (Button Accordion)

Saoirse hails from Newtowncunningham in Co.Donegal. She is no stranger to the Acadamh having previously attended lessons here and is now currently teaching Irish next door in Cultúrlann. She has completed all her grade exams with The London College of Music. She has made many TV and radio appearances including Highland Radio, RTÉ's Ceili House with Kieran Hanrahan and RTÉ RNAG with Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha. Saoirse also had the opportunity to play in a series of concerts in Denmark. Saoirse is an active member of her branch, CCÉ Leitir Ceanainn, where she has the role of Oifigeach na Gaeilge. She is actively performing and teaching music in the Donegal/Derry area. In 2021, Saoirse graduated with a BA degree in Irish with Music from Ulster University and in 2022 she graduated with a PGCE in Primary Education from St Mary's University in Belfast. Saoirse now teaches in the local Gaelscoil.

Emer Mallon (Harp)

Emer Mallon from Keady, County Armagh is an acclaimed harpist and multi-instrumentalist. As a session musician and performer she has thrilled audiences at festivals across Ireland, Europe and the USA including the Tønder Festival in Denmark, Piping Live in Glasgow, the William Kennedy Festival in Armagh, and the Milwaukee Irish Fest in the USA.

Emer is a prolific performer and composer appearing on numerous TV & Radio shows for the BBC, TG4, and RTÉ. She is a member of award winning band Connla, who have two critically acclaimed albums and have toured Europe and America extensively.

As a harp tutor she is inspiring the next generation of traditional Irish musicians in music schools across Ireland. In addition to all of this Emer is a qualified music teacher and holds an Honours degree in Music, and a PGCE from the University of Ulster.

Moya Sweeney (Bodhran)

Moya Sweeney is a button accordion player from Trillick, Co. Tyrone. As an accomplished Irish traditional musician and tutor, Moya has performed across Ireland and Europe. While competing in various competitions at county, provincial and All Ireland level, she has achieved an UIster title in 15-18 Button Accordion and All Ireland medals in Céilí Band competitions. Coming from a musical family, Moya has appeared on various television and radio programmes, such as BBC Two’s ‘I Lár an Aonaigh’ and RTE Radio 1’s ‘Céilí House’. As a member of Ulster University Choir, Moya performed in Michael Rooney’s ‘Famine Suite’ at IMBOLC in 2019, while also performing as a member of the IMBOLC Orchestra in 2020, along with Four Men & A Dog. In November 2019, Moya was selected to participate in the Traditional Music Writer Mentoring Scheme, in partnership with The Journal of Music. Here, she was given the opportunity to write review pieces and learn from established editors. Moya has recently graduated from Ulster University with a First-Class Honours in Music and continues to teach and aid young people through Irish traditional music.

Jack Warnock (Guitar, Piano, Traditional Singing)

Jack Warnock is a multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar banjo) and vocalist from Maghera, Co. Derry. As Guitar/Piano/Vocalist in the traditional groups Cóiriú and Meargánta he performed in the final of Siansa Gael Linn at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on multiple occasions, and at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He won the An Ré Nua (solo singing) competition in the lead-up to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, 2013 in Derry and was placed 2nd in the 15-18 Accompaniment competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, 2014. He has shared the stage with many fantastic musicians, playing support for We Banjo 3, Ulaid, Brendan Mulholland and more. Jack has also provided accompaniment for musicians such as Liz Doherty, Darren Breslin and Troy MacGillivray over the past year. He is currently studying Irish with Music at the Magee Campus of Ulster University and is part of The Doc Flock who will be appearing at the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in October 2016.

 

Jack McGoldrick (Guitar)

 

Jack McGoldrick is a guitar player from Belfast. Music was always in the centre of family life, and he has been focusing on guitar for more than a decade. After attaining grade8, he was accepted into Berklee College of Music in both Boston andValencia, and now is completing hisBEng in Engineering at Ulster University. 


He has played extensively with groups for functions and concerts, including the Belfast  Groove Collective, Northern Lights Project, and the Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra. Whilst Jazz has been his focus for the past number of years, he has spent the last two immersing himself in the worldof traditional Irish music in both Derry and Belfast and has been involved with Belfast Tradfest and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin’s Imbolc festival.

 

Jane Walls (Uilleann Pipes)

Jane Walls from Moneyglass, County Antrim began playing the uilleann pipes at the age of 8 under the guidance of Gay McKeon at Na Píobairí Uilleann. She is a six time All Ireland solo champion at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann where she has also competed successfully in groups and with her sisters. She was part of Spleodar, a group of young musicians who won the Siansa Gael Linn group competition in 2018. Jane has performed for Uachtarán na hÉireann in Áras an Uachtaráin and in Stormont as well as on tv, on stage in Vicar Street and in festivals throughout Ireland.

 

Fionnuala Kirby (Tin Whistle)

Fionnuala Kirby is a 20 year old flute and tune whistle player who has had a passion for trad from the young age of 6. She is currently studying at the Magee campus with Ulster and is from county Louth.