Aoife Ní Bhriain announced as University College Cork and Arts Council Traditional Artist in Residence

8 Dec 2025

University College Cork (UCC) and the Arts Council have announced fiddler Aoife Ní Bhriain as the 2026 Traditional Artist in Residence.

UCC is one of six universities to partner with the Arts Council on this flagship programme, which reflects the diversity and richness of Ireland’s creative landscape, with programmes spanning Traditional Arts, Digital Arts, Literature and Film.

These awards, jointly funded by the Arts Council and UCC, provide artists with dedicated workspaces and finances to develop their work and further Ireland’s vibrant creative scene.

Born in Dublin, to a family of musicians, Aoife Ní Bhriain has established herself as one of the most versatile musicians of her generation. Thanks to her musical heritage combined with her classical studies she has collaborated and performed with musicians such as pianist Eliso Virsaladze, fiddle player Martin Hayes,violinist Mariana Sirbu, Welsh harpist CatrinFinch, jazz guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel and Oscar winning actor Tim Robbins. She has been guest co-leader of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Guest Leader of Crash Ensemble, Stargaze Ensemble, Concorde Ensemble and has also co-led the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. 

She is a member of the avant garde string quintet Wooden Elephant as well as the Goodman Trio with whom she has explored the manuscripts of the music collected around Ireland in the1800’s by Canon James Goodman. Since 2021 Aoife has joined forces with Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and in October 2023 they released their debut album “Double You”. More recently, she has released a new duo album “Cosán Casta” with pianist Cormac McCarthy in November 2025 to critical acclaim. 

Winner of the RTÉ Best Folk Instrumentalist of the Year, the Camerata Ireland Young Musician Award and the prestigious Bonn Óir Sean Uí Riada in 2010, Aoife has also won seven All Ireland titles as well as prizes in international violin and chamber music competitions.

Aoife will be hosted by UCC’s Department of Music, where the study of Irish traditional music and dance has been championed for over a century. Irish Traditional Music is a key part of the Music Department’s identity, and holds a prominent place within its uniquely diverse curriculum.

Congratulating Aoife, Dr Jack Talty, Lecturer in Irish Traditional Music at UCC Department of Music, said:

We are delighted to welcome Aoife Ní Bhriain as our Arts Council/UCC Traditional Artist in Residence for 2026. Aoife brings a wealth of experience and energy to the role, informed by a unique artistic curiosity that explores sympathies between her work in both traditional and classical musics. We are grateful to collaborate with the Arts Council to provide exceptional traditional arts experiences for students, staff, and the wider UCC campus and communities, while offering essential resources and periods of development and reflection to artists.

Maura McGrath, Chair of the Arts Council, said:

As Chair of the Arts Council, I am delighted to congratulate the new Artists in Residence across our universities. These programmes support artists to deepen their practice while bringing fresh creative energy into teaching, research and campus life. By connecting students and staff with professional artists, they spark new ideas and show how creativity can enrich every discipline. We are very grateful to our university partners for their ongoing commitment to these residencies.

Aoife Ní Bhriain joins Brendan Canty, Arts Council – UCC Film Artist in Residence; poet Dean Brown, Arts Council – UCC Writer in Residence, and multi-media artist Alan Buter, Arts Council - UCC Digital Artist in Residence.

Performing Arts at UCC

University College Cork (UCC) is ranked in the top 100 universities worldwide for Performing Arts in the QS World University Rankings, recognising its international reputation for study and research in the Performing Arts including music and sonic art, theatre and interdisciplinary practices.

Discover study and research opportunities at UCC's School of Film, Music and Theatre here.