Tionchar
Mary originally comes from Co. Derry and is now living in Donegal.
She has loved music from an early age and sang in various school productions and choirs. On moving to Donegal some years ago, she expanded her knowledge and appreciation of traditional music while completing her studies at a music school in Falcarragh. She developed her own style of singing, "traditional with a contemporary twist." She has collaborated and recorded with other singer/songwriters from West Donegal and also sang in a number of bands performing across the North West. She is currently learning to play the harp and performs regularly with her husband Martin Crossin, an uilleann piper. This duo plan to record a CD of their own in the near future.
Caoimhe Hogarty is a native of Tallaght in Dublin.
She is a recent graduate from the Traditional Music Performance course at Ballyfermot College in Dublin and, previously, the Popular Music Performance course (Rock School). Caoimhe has been singing since childhood but only developed an interest in traditional singing in her late teens. She is an exceptional singer, blessed with the ability to take a song and make it her own. She has benefited from the teachings of singer Niamh Parsons and Dublin song master, the late Frank Harte, who broadened her interest in sourcing and collecting folk songs and keeping them alive.
Tony Byrne is a guitarist from Dublin.
Tony has been playing traditional music since the age of 16. Having toured and recorded with some of the most well-respected names in Irish music, Tony is in great demand both in the studio and at live performances throughout Europe and the USA.
Andrea grew up in a musical family and has loved singing since she was a child.
In her home country, Switzerland, she sang in various choirs of different genres and took lessons in various instruments, including violin. Andrea moved to Dublin in 2005, where she completed the two-year HND in Traditional Music Performance in Ballyfermot College. She is currently studying for a BA in Applied Music in Dundalk I.T.
Páraic has performed as a singer and keyboard player with many bands, touring with them in Ireland, Scotland, England, Brittany, France and Germany.
In addition to being a songwriter, he is heavily involved in the arrangement of traditional instrumental tunes. He has a longstanding interest in traditional and rock music and has become increasingly interested in jazz piano. He is a founder member of the traditional and contemporary band Bevel Jenny and plays a central role in the band's creative process. He has also played with Foundland, Child, and Martin and Áine Furey of Bohinta. As well as having been involved with Tionchar, he is currently working on original material which will form the basis of new recordings by Bevel Jenny.
Pat Daly was born and raised in Laois.
He has worked as producer/arranger on many records and projects, played violin with some great people and friends, and also plays piano and guitar. He is currently completing a PhD in five-string fiddle techniques and is in demand as a session musician.
Oisín McAuley comes from Carrick in County Donegal and has been playing music from an early age.
He has been a member of the award-winning band Danú since 2001 and previously played with the bands Cran and Stockton's Wing. His own album, Far from the Hills of Donegal, was released a number of years ago. He is based in Boston.