Biography

Danny O’Mahony appointed Traditional Artist in Residence at UCC 2019/20. 

Danny O’Mahony is a traditional musician from Ballyduff in North County Kerry. He grew up playing music with the older generation of musicians in his locality. His late father Mick had a very positive influence on Danny as a young child and nurtured his keen ear and interest in traditional Irish music. Both imaginative and fearless in his interpretation, Danny’s musical style is expressive and deeply personal, and reflects his affinity with the music of past masters.

His performance abilities have been acknowledged through winning Junior & Senior All-Ireland titles and graduating from the University of Limerick with a Masters in Performance. In 2013 Danny was awarded Top Button Accordionist (US, IRE, EU, UK) by the Irish Music Association in America.

2011 saw the release of Danny’s long awaited and critically acclaimed debut solo recording ‘In Retrospect‘ accompanied by Patsy Broderick on piano, Cyril O’Donoghue on bouzouki and Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh on percussion.

He collaborated with concertina maestro Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh in 2012 and released their duet album, aptly titled ‘As it Happened’. This features Danny & Mícheál playing unaccompanied in the comfort of Mícheál’s kitchen. ‘As it Happened’ was awarded Instrumental Album of the year by LiveIreland Music Awards.

The Shannon Vale Céilí Band was revived by Danny in 2009, having been originally formed in Ballyduff by fiddler Dr. Mick Sweeney in 1959. Some of their achievements to date include winning the prestigious All-Ireland Senior Céilí Band title at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (2011), performing at Áras an Uachtaráin for President Michael D. Higgins on St. Patrick’s Day (2014), and releasing their debut album ‘Shannon’s Lovely Vale’. www.shannonvaleceiliband.com

Danny presents and produces a popular weekly radio programme on Radio Kerry, which features Irish Traditional Music and Song. ‘Trip to the Cottage’ began in 2004 and has many followers, not only in Ireland but all over the globe, who tune in live on Monday nights or download the podcasts from http://www.radiokerry.ie/podcast_series/trip-to-the-cottage/

In September 2019 University College Cork supported by the Arts Council of Ireland appointed Danny O’Mahony as their Traditional Artist in Residence. This prestigious position consists of conceiving and delivering a series of Lectures & Concert Performances throughout the year at the School of Film, Music & Theatre at UCC. 

O’Mahony has immense experience in Traditional Irish Music tuition over a period of three decades. He is a guest tutor in various University Irish study programmes both nationally and internationally and is a registered tutor with the Kerry Education and Training Board. He frequently attends festivals and summer schools, at home and abroad, as guest tutor, lecturer and performer.

A selection of performances, collaborations and tours to date include:

Masters of Tradition, Bantry, Co. Cork | with Martin Hayes & Denis Cahill

Conamara Sea Week, Letterfrack, Co. Galway | with Tony Linnane, Mick Conneely & Micheál Ó Cuaig

Up for the Match – live RTE Television | with Cormac Begley & Steve Cooney 

The Birmingham Trad Festival, UK | with Liz Kane

Luke Kelly Tribute Concert, Vicar Street, Dublin | with John Sheahan & Michael Howard

Seán McCarthy Festival Concert, Finuge, Co. Kerry | with Cathy Jordan, Steve Cooney & Brendan Graham

Drangedal Folk Festival, Norway | with John Sheahan, Michael Howard & Cyril O’Donoghue

Folkemusikkveka Festival, Hallingdal, Norway | with Maurice Lennon & Cyril O’Donoghue

Con Curtin Festival, Brosna, Co. Kerry | with Míchéal & MacDara Ó Raghallaigh & Seán Garvey

Listowel Writers Week, Co. Kerry | ‘Dúchas’ with Gabriel Fitzmaurice

St. Patrick’s Day 2014 Celebrations, Áras an Uachtaráin | with The Shannon Vale Céilí Band

Corofin Traditional Festival, Co. Clare | with Bríd Harper & Pádraic O’Reilly

Clifden Arts Festival ‘Music & Poetry’ | with poets Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Michael Coady & Tony Curtis.

Finish – Irish Festival, Finland | with Johnny Ringo McDonagh & Cyril O’Donoghue

Con Houlihan Memorial Concert, Castleisland, Co. Kerry | with John Sheahan & Cyril O’Donoghue

National Concert Series ‘In Session’ | with Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh

Catskills Irish Music Festival, New York, USA | Solo performer & Tutor

Sean Nós Northwest Festival, Olympia, USA | Solo performer & Tutor

University of Montana – Irish Studies Programme, Missoula, USA | Solo performer & Tutor

University of Limerick – ‘Blas’ Irish Music Programme, | Solo performer & Tutor

Feakle International Traditional Music Festival, Co. Clare | with Tony Linnane, James Cullinan, Liz Kane & Bríd Harper. 

Danny’s current area of special interest is the music of his relative Tom Carmody and the James Morrison Instrumental Quartet. Danny performs regularly on RTÉ, TG4, RTÉ Radio One, Lyric FM, and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

In Retrospect is an instrumental fusion of generational tradition where nostalgic tones are enhanced by the innovative instrumentals of a serious talent. A debut delight– Irish Music Magazine, September 2011.

Minimalist ‘method’ results in brilliant ‘As It Happened’– Daniel Neely Irish Echo New York June 21st 2012

  www.dannyomahony.com