06/22/2026
Another fine night of music, this one a house concert at Dave Moriarty's house, 48 Freshwater Road right here in Freshwater. Two of Ireland's best on their eastern Canada tour, Aidan Connolly and Bryan O'Leary, July 11, 7 PM, $20 (cash only) on the door. Finger foods, tea and coffee will be there, bring whatever else it might be that you'd like to drink.
https://youtu.be/uJ9TjGffX8Q?si=_n1KFVid-KBcFIuY
Biography
Fiddle player Aidan Connolly and accordionist Bryan O’Leary are two leading performers of traditional Irish music.
Bryan O’Leary, a native of Tureencahill in County Kerry, is widely regarded as one of the leading accordion players of his generation and was named TG4 Young Musician of the Year in 2015. He is the grandson of the legendary Sliabh Luachra accordion player Johnny O’Leary, and his playing continues a rich family tradition rooted in the distinctive
repertoire of polkas and slides associated with the region.
Aidan Connolly, from Dublin, has received widespread acclaim for his distinctive fiddle playing and was nominated for Best Folk Instrumentalist at the RTÉ Folk Awards in 2022. He also performs the role of John Sheahan in the internationally touring stage show Dubliners Encore. His recordings have received critical praise in publications such as
The Irish Times and The Irish Echo.
Their album The Groves of Gneeveguilla, released on the Raelach Records label in late 2025, celebrates the music and musicians of Sliabh Luachra. Both musicians are experienced educators and have been invited as guest teachers at institutions including the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (University of Limerick) and University College Cork, and regularly teach at music festivals and workshops in Ireland and abroad.
Press
On Aidan Connolly
“Jaw-droppingly mature fiddle playing.” — The Irish Times
“Connolly is an astonishingly good young player.” — The Irish Echo
On Bryan O’Leary
“Possessed of a fine rhythmic sensibility and an ear for soaring melodies.” — The Irish
Times
“A gloriously fleet-footed solo debut.” — The Irish Times
Set of polkas performed by Aidan Connolly (fiddle) & Bryan O'Leary ...
