At Home and Abroad

Bryan comes from the heart of it, in Tureencahill, Gneeveguilla, Co. Kerry. His grandfather Johnny O’Leary was one of the key figures of Sliabh Luachra music in the 20th century and he proudly continues his legacy. Johnny received the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and in 2014, Bryan was honoured with the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Young Musician of the Year Award- both at the same venue, the Concert Hall at the University of Limerick. This was a very proud moment for Bryan and his family, and he continues to honour and promote his grandfather’s legacy. Aidan, although born and reared in Dublin, was introduced to Sliabh Luachra music by his mother Eileen Moynihan, from Gneeveguilla, a tin whistle player, and his uncle Con Moynihan, a fiddle player now living in Castleisland. Paddy Moynihan (1918-1989), Aidan’s grandfather, was an accordion player who would have played with Johnny O’Leary in Thady Willy’s Hall for dances. We first performed together at the Patrick O’Keeffe Festival in 2022, alongside Brian Mooney. From there, we began to play together more regularly, mainly repertoire shaped by the old sources we love to explore The Handed Down Sliabh Luachra Archive, founded by PJ Teahan, has been an invaluable resource along the way as we put this album together. Above all, we are grateful to the generations who have carried this music before us, and we hope this album honours the spirit of Sliabh Luachra. https://raelachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-groves-of-gneeveguilla