Donegal Fiddle MusicCairdeas na bhFidiléirí
2025 Dunkineely November Fiddle Weekend
Dunkineely Community Centre
Fri 31st Oct & Sat 1st Nov 2025
Fiddle Classes: Sat. 1st 10am €15:
Registration 10am. Classes 10.30 – 1.00 & 2 – 4.30
It would help if you pre-book: donegalfiddlemusic@gmail.com
086 340 9019
Fiddle Concert : Sat. 1st 8pm €10:
Doors open 7.30
Featuring:
Melanie Houton
Martin McGinley
Catriona Kennedy
& local young fiddlers
Fri & Sat Nights:
Informal sessions in Dunkineely town
WELCOME
Welcome to Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí, Our name means the ‘friendship or association of fiddle players’.
We formed our organisation in the early 1980’s to help support and promote the art of fiddle playing in the Donegal tradition. We operate as a not-for-profit voluntary organisation and we invest all of our income directly into our events, programmes, publications, projects and support for living artists. Our work is recognised by An Chomhairle Ealaíon/The Arts Council who provide vital financial support for our work.
Mission Statement
Our mission statement is simple – we want to:
- strengthen Donegal fiddle playing at its roots
- improve standards of fiddle playing
- promote participation in all aspects of Donegal fiddle music
- encourage the transmission of the Donegal styles and repertoire
Contact Details
Email: donegalfiddlemusic(at)gmail.com (anti-spam)
Company Registration Number: 634939
Directors:
Chairman, Dr. Aidan O’Donnell; Vice Chairman, Gearóid Ó Maonaigh; Secretary’
Tara Connaghan, Ellie Nic Fhionnghaile and Dr. Conor Caldwell.
Con Cassidy (1909-1994)
Con (6th July 1909 - 5th February 1994) a fiddler, was born and reared in Cruachlann, Teileann, where he was exposed to musical influences such as his cousins; John, Paddy and Frank Cassidy. Other players who were prominent at the time included Mick McShane, Jimmy Lyons…
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Dinny McLaughlin
Dinny McLaughlin was born in 1935, in Shandrum near Buncrana in Inishowen, North East Donegal. At the time when Dinny was a boy “big nights” in houses were the main social events, as was the case all over Donegal. People would gather in a…
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The Campbells
The Campbells, from near Glenties Co Donegal, are a very well known musical family. As a partnership, brothers Vincent and Jimmy were very active fiddlers and were always in great demand until Vincent's passing in December, 2018. Another brother, Columba, remains a very highly regarded…
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Neillidh Boyle
was born in 1889 in Pennsylvania , USA, to immigrant parents who had a great interest in maintaining their family's links to all aspects of Irish culture. They Boyles returned home to Donegal by the time that Neillidh was eight years old and set…
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John Doherty 1900 - 1980
John Doherty was born into a very musical travelling family in February 1900 in the Ardara area of Co Donegal. John's parents were Mickey Mór Doherty (Mór being an Irish word meaning big ) and Mary McConnell. Mickey Mór Doherty had a musical inheritance…
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Tommy Peoples (1948-2018)
Following Compiled by Martin McGinley. Uploaded on 6.10.20 Tommy Peoples, who grew up in Kinnycally, St Johnston, was many people’s favourite fiddle-player. The Rough Guide to Irish Music described him in 2001 as “unquestionably the most influential Irish fiddler…
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James Byrne (1946 - 2008)
(4th January 1946 - 8th November 2008) Without doubt, James Byrne (An Bheirneach) of Mín na Croise was one of the finest traditional fiddle players in Ireland. Along with his musical talent, he had great background knowledge…
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