2019
UCC names new traditional artist in residence
Performer and teacher Danny O’Mahony has been appointed as the Traditional Artist in Residence at University College Cork 2019-20.
The Arts Council, in partnership with the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences (UCC) and the School of Film, Music and Theatre (UCC), announced the appointment, which starts in September.
O’Mahony will deliver a series of concerts, workshops, and classes over the course of his year-long residency.
A traditional accordion player from Ballyduff in North County Kerry, O'Mahony grew up immersed in the rich musical style of that region, playing with the older generation of musicians in his locality. His late father Mick, also a musician, nurtured his keen ear and interest in traditional Irish music.
He released his critically-acclaimed debut solo recording In Retrospect in 2011, accompanied by Patsy Broderick on piano, Cyril O’Donoghue on bouzouki and Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh on percussion. This was soon followed by a musical collaboration with concertina maestro Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh in 2012 resulting in a highly acclaimed duet album entitled As it Happened, which was awarded Instrumental Album of the year by the LiveIreland Music Awards.
A guest tutor in various university Irish studies programmes nationally and internationally and a registered tutor with the Kerry Education and Training Board, he is also an experienced broadcaster — he presents and produces Trip to the Cottage, a weekly radio programme on Radio Kerry featuring Irish traditional music and song.
Earlier this year he inherited Tony MacMahon’s iconic accordion. Tony is one of the greatest living exponents of the accordion and this responsibility is a testament to his standing and reputation within the traditional arts community.
O’Mahony will be hosted by the School of Film, Music and Theatre at UCC where the study of Irish traditional music and dance has been pioneered for many decades.
He will be warmly welcomed by a team of internationally recognised traditional artists including Bobby Gardiner, Máire Ní Chéilleachair, Connie O’Connell, Colm Murphy, Conal Ó Gráda, Niall Vallely, Oisín Morrison, Mary Mitchell-Ingoldsby and Tríona Ní Shíocháin.