05/03/2026
Really looking forward to what promises to be a wonderful gig tomorrow evening - join us!
🎶 March Folk Club 🎶
Macdara Ó Faoláin & Victoria Adiiye
We have a very special gig lined up for March with these two fantastic musicians & composers.
Macdara Ó Faoláin is a bouzouki player, fiddle player & singer from An Rinn, Co
Waterford, renowned for his innovative approach to traditional Irish music. He is
currently focused on composing solo bouzouki pieces that seamlessly blend his deep
knowledge of harmony with his traditional roots, drawing inspiration from a wide
array of genres. As a native Irish speaker, he is also writing new songs in Irish,
contributing to both the preservation and evolution of the language through his music.
Macdara performs regularly with collaborators such as Victoria Adiiye and Cormac
McCarthy, and frequently accompanies various musicians within the traditional music
scene, having developed a distinctive approach to the Irish bouzouki. He is also a
member of a trio with Páraic Mac Donnchadha and Pádraic Keane. Their debut album,
Beo, a compilation of live recordings from performances across the country, was hailed
by the Irish Echo as "one of the best albums of the past few years.
"
After years of building an impressive discography as an accompanist, Macdara
released a solo EP titled Do Shamhlaigh Mé Tír Nua… in 2024, serving as a prelude to
his debut album Ar Thaobh Chill an Fhuarthainn, launched in early January with a
sold-out release show. Both releases were produced by composer and pianist Cormac
McCarthy and showcase Macdara both as a solo musician and as a collaborator with
McCarthy, Victoria Adiiye, Conor O’Sullivan, Áine Whelan and more. Do Shamlaigh Mé
Tír Nua… was recently nominated for album of the year by Nós as well as Macdara
being nominated for Best Folk Instrumentalist by the RTÉ Folk Awards. Named the
Young Musician of the Year by TG4 in 2024, Macdara is solidifying his place as a
significant figure in the world of traditional Irish music.
“Ar Thaobh Chill an Fhuarthainn” is an atmospheric album full of complex, well
considered music from a really outstanding young musician.
” The Irish Echo
Victoria Adiiye was raised in Uganda, East Africa, where she first immersed herself in
traditional Ugandan music and classical guitar. During this time, she developed a deep
fascination with Irish music after discovering recordings from the genre, particularly
captivated by the guitar playing of Dáithí Sproule. His intricate melodies and rhythms
inspired her to learn and incorporate Irish guitar techniques into her own playing. As
a child, she performed frequently at the National Concert Hall in Kampala with her
sisters and the Kampala Symphony Orchestra, but it was through Irish music that she
found her unique musical path. Later, she moved to Minnesota to attend university,
where she met Dáithí Sproule, and their shared love for Irish music and guitar playing
led to the formation of a musical duet. Their collaboration blossomed, with Victoria’s
African upbringing and classical training complementing Dáithí’s deep roots in
traditional Irish music and blues. Their partnership has become a cherished and
distinct sound, as they reimagine traditional melodies while incorporating their own
musical influences.
Now based in Ireland, Victoria performs most frequently with her partner, Macdara Ó
Faoláin, and has performed at festivals in Ireland, Minnesota, Europe, and Canada with
notable musicians such as Dáithí Sproule, Cormac McCarthy, Conor O’ Sullivan, Ciarán
Ó Gealbháin, Muireann Ní Shé and Shane Meehan. She was most recently featured on
Macdara Ó Faoláin’s album Ar Thaobh Cill an Fhuarthainn and also toured the UK in
the fall with him. Her diverse musical and cultural background has shaped her unique
style as a singer, solo guitarist, and banjo player.
