Meet the Band
Sean Carroll (B.Accordion)
Sean started on tin whistle with Kevin McTernan and progressed to the accordion – taught by his father, Michael. Both were members of the County Leitrim Céilí band. He competed at Fleadh etc. most notably winning senior ceili band with The Dartry Ceili Band in 2009. Sean’s sister Noelle (flute) also a member & Sean teaches at Fred Finn CCE. Sean is married to Claire and they have three children, Emma, Lucy & Tara, all play both classical and traditional music
Declan Folan (Fiddle)
Declan Folan is from Bunninadden, Co. Sligo and now lives in Tubbercurry. Declan, also a former All-Ireland champion, can be heard playing regularly in sessions in Tubbercurry, Gurteen and Ballymote, He is also a member of the Dartry Céilí Band. Declan teaches fiddle classes throughout the year and is a highly respected teacher and musician. Having learned much of his music from the late Fred Finn, he is very much rooted in the South Sligo fiddle style of playing
Noelle Carroll (Flute & Vocals)
Noelle is the younger sister of Seán. Growing up, she played with Fred Finn Grúpa Cheoil and Ceili Bands and has been a tutor with the Branch as well. Noelle was a member of the All Ireland winning Fred Finn Senior Grúpa Cheoil in 2009. She works in Sligo as a Paediatric Physiotherapist and lives in Kilmacowen with her husband Enda Mitchell and their two children.
Cian Kearins (Flute & Vocals)
Cian Kearins is a flute/whistle player and singer/lilter, living in Dublin but originally from Co. Sligo. Born into the well-known musical Collis family he was surrounded by music when growing up in Sligo. An All-Ireland Champion on 14 occasions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, he is a regular performer, tutor and adjudicator at festivals and workshops around the country.
June McCormack (Flute)
June comes from Ballintogher, Co. Sligo. In 1998, June was awarded The TG4 Gradam ‘Young Musician of the Year Award’ in the Town Hall Theatre in Galway, and that same year, she won the All Ireland Senior Flute Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ballina.
A primary school teacher by profession, June has published two flute tutorial books in recent years, Fliúit (2006) and Fliúit 2 (2009). She has recorded three CDs with Michael Rooney; ‘Tobar an Cheoil’ (2022), 'Land's End' (2006) and Draíocht' (2004). June is a member of Sligo’s Dartry Ceili Band.
Damien McGuinness (Drums)
Damien McGuinness comes from Dromore West, Co. Sligo. Aswell as playing drums with the band, he also plays button accordion, meledeon and bodhran. He is also the drummer of the Moylurg Céilí band who won the All-Ireland in 2013. Damien works as a primary school teacher and is a member of the Tireragh Branch of Comhaltas in Co. Sligo where he has been involved for many years in the branches céilí bands and Grúpa Cheoil. Damien has toured with Comhaltas in Ireland and Britain and was the drummer with the National Folk Orchestra for both the Boroimhe and Macalla Suites. He has also served as Óg Bhaoil on the Ard Comhairle of Comhaltas
Mossie Martin (Fiddle)
Fiddle player Mossie Martin hails from Derrynacoosan near the village of Keadue in north Roscommon. His style is rooted in the North Connaught tradition and he performs regularly with the Dartry Ceili Band as well as collaborating with other traditional artists including Leonard Barry, Michael Holmes, Bernard Flaherty, Donal O’Connor and Seamie O’Dowd. A tutor of the well-established Traditional Irish Music Course based in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, Mossie has been performing and teaching traditional music for over two decades and has recorded several times with the Dartry Ceili Band, Lúnasa and Dervish. He released a semi-solo album in 2019 entitled ‘The Humours of Derrynacoosan’ which features John Blake on guitar and keyboard and Mossie’s brother Brendan, sister Áine and father Tom on several tracks.
John Kilkenny (Fiddle)
Fiddle player John Kilkenny originally from Castlebar Co Mayo but now lives in the village of Belcarra just outside the town. John is from a musical family and he has been involved in playing, competing, teaching and promoting Irish traditional music at all levels. He founded The Rolling Waves Traditional music group which offers young musicians the opportunity to play Traditional Irish Music in many different settings.
He also presents his own Traditional Irish Music programme on Community Radio Castlebar 102.9fm.
Kevin Brehony (Piano)
Kevin grew up in Castlebaldwin, Co. Sligo and is now living in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Kevin's introduction to playing music in public came at a young age in 1989 when joining the family musical group 'The Castle Céilí Band', playing to audiences across the Connaught region and beyond. It was these formative years that helped shape his accompaniment style when playing for set dancing and at other dance functions. With the emergence of the 'Moving Cloud' music group in the 1990's, the playing of Carl Hession had a significant influence on Kevin's style. Prior to joining the Dartry, Kevin had already gained years of experience on the All-Ireland céilí band competition stage with other bands going as far back as 1998 in Ballina. Kevin has featured on various CD recordings over the years, commencing with fellow Dartry members June Mc Cormack and Michael Rooney in 1998 as part of Síona, which also included Damian O Brien & Oliver Loughlin and more recently with Dervish flute player Liam Kelly