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| Margaret
O'Carroll (Soprano)
Irish
Soprano, Margaret O'Carroll, a Gold Medallist
at the Dublin Feis Ceoil, began her voice and
piano studies with her mother, Elizabeth, and
continued at the Royal Irish Academy of Music,
in Dublin, and the Cork School of Music. Margaret
credits her Wexford-born mother
for her deep love of storytelling. "She
taught me how to sing a song, how to tell a
story.
'Sing from your heart' she would say."
Miss
O'Carroll has an impressive performance history
in her native Ireland, including
oratorio (she sang her first Messiah with the
late, great Irish tenor Frank Patterson), light
opera, concerts, recitals, and tours with the
National Folk Theatre of Ireland.
Margaret
is one of the few classically trained singers
in traditional Irish
music today. Now a resident of Los Angeles,
her main focus is the performance and
recording of Irish song.
In 2002 her debut CD 'Songs My Mother Taught
Me, A Collection of Irish Songs' was submitted
to the 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards Committee by
Kerry Records for consideration in six categories
including Song Of The Year and Best Traditional
Folk Album.
| "Margaret,
whose range is something to wonder at...
will be heard of again and again." |
| Cork
Examiner |
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| Mary
Curtin (Director
and Presenter) 
Award-winning
actor/director Mary Curtin a native of Tralee,
Co. Kerry and current
resident of Cork City, Ireland, made her United
States theatre arts debut at the
Celtic Arts Center, Los Angeles in December,
2002 as guest artist/poet and storyteller
in the delightful program "CHRISTMAS
FROM A CELTIC TABLE."
Mary
is the recipient of many awards and accolades
for acting and directing,
including best actress at the Cork Arts Theatre
Awards (Cork 1989) and
best director/producer for 'The Galway Girl',
'The Stanley Parkers', and 'The Inside Trap.'
Her
most recent directing credits include 'Who's
Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
by Edward Albee, 'A Doll's House' by Henrik
Ibsen,'Private Lives' by Noel Coward and 'Translations'
by Brian Friel.
In
March 2004, Mary performed the role of Narrator
in Side by Side by Sondheim
and also presented The Opera Gala Concert in
The Opera House, Cork City, Ireland.
In
September 2003 -- Casting Director for an Irish
short film entitled "Razor Fish",
Directed by Helen Williams and starring Academy
Award Winning Actress Brenda Fricker (My Left
Foot).
April,
2004, Mary was invited by Kerry Records to devise
their forthcoming show starring well-known Irish
actor Redmond Gleeson.
Ms.
Curtin is also in constant demand as a drama
coach, voice coach, and speech and drama adjudicator,
and works privately preparing students for exams,
auditions and public speaking.
"I
knew that the production was directed
by
the white hot hand of Mary Curtin"
|
| Kevin
Power (RTE Radio) |
| ...."for
sheer credibility..." |
| Cork
Arts Theatre Critic Awards
for her role as Dr. Martha Livingstone
in "Agnes of God" |
| |
| "Riveting
theatre...."
|
| (Who's
Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) Irish Times
|
more
about Mary Curtin
Contact:
Kerry Records
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| Christine
Parker (Pianist)
Christine
Parker studied piano and viola in her native
England, gained her Bachelor's and Master's
Degrees in Music at Cambridge University, and,
as a student, she was a founder/member and repetiteur
with the University opera group.
In
London she studied voice with Heddle Nash and
joined the Ambrosian Singers with
whom she made hundreds of recordings, concert
appearances and broadcasts, often
serving as rehearsal accompanist for Benjamin
Britten, Sir John Barbirolli, Sir Georg Solti
and others. She studied with Simon Preston and
was organist at the Carmelite Church, Kensington
for 16 years. In addition, she coached leading
British singers in opera,
oratorio and lieder.
In
1980, after relocating to Los Angeles, Christine
Parker sang with Roger Wagner's
Master Chorale, was a studio accompanist and
an opera and oratorio coach. Now a
resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, she continues
to be active in music and returns to
Los Angeles for special concert work.
Contact:
Kerry Records |
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Aidan O'Carroll is widely known in Ireland as acomposer, arranger, conductor and accompanist.
He studied music at University College Cork graduating with a Masters of Arts in Composition and is the founder and director of the Kerry School of Music and Performing Arts, the largest performing arts school in Ireland with an annual enrollment of 1500 students.
Mr. O'Carroll has established numerous youth and adult music ensembles in his native Co. Kerry, is a founding member of the world famous National Folk Theatre of Ireland and has served on the board of The Arts Council of Ireland and The Irish Choirs' Association.
Aidan O'Carroll is the first recipient of the Fleischmann Prize for his outstanding contribution
to the development of music in Ireland. His numerous compositions and arrangements focus
on the rich and varied repertoire of Irish traditional music, and the lush arrangements heard
on "Songs My Mother Taught Me" reveal this tremendous talent. Aidan lives in Tralee,
Kerry's county town, with his wife Eileen, and four daughters.
Contact: Kerry Records
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Redmond Gleeson (Actor)
Redmond was born in Dublin, Ireland. In 1968 he moved from Aspen, Colorado, where he was co-founder of the High Country Players, to Los Angeles. Since coming to Los Angeles he has appeared in many productions, including Look Homeward Angel (Pasadena Playhouse), The Changing Room (Actors for Themselves) at the Odyssey Theatre, The Venus of Menschen Falls (LAAT), Travesties (Richmond Shepherd Theatre), Buddy's Girl (Second Stage) for which he won a Drama-Logue Award, and Kevin’s bed (Laguna Playhouse) for which he won the Garland Award. He produced, directed and acted in an adaptation of Bloomsday - James Joyce, which he co-wrote with T.S.Kerrigan for his company Ray of Light Productions, which has toured for the past 17 years. Feature films include John Huston's The Dead, Young Gun 2, Dreamscape, Cattle Annie & Little Britches, The Dorothy Day Story, Tom Horn, The Octagon, Steel, and Pipe Dreams. He also co-starred with Piper Laurie in St. Patrick's Day. Redmond recently completed the independent films A Foreign Affair and Project V.I.P.E.R. Television credits include Movies of the Week: Hoffa, The Sinatra Story, Alcatraz, A Rumor of War, Mae West, Wanted: The Sundance Woman, and Starflight 1. His episodic television credits include MASH, Columbo, Law & Order, Cagney and Lacey, St. Elsewhere, Lou Grant, Unsolved Mysteries, Kojak, and Sirens. In June of 2004, Redmond starred in the world premiere of An Evening of Irish Love and Lyrics, developed by Irish theatre director Mary Curtin for Kerry Records. Most recently Redmond starred in Kerry Records production of A Grand Irish Variety Concert at The Shiley Theater, San Diego, The United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco and Marsee Auditorium, El Camino College, Torrance. Redmond lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Mardiah, who is an artist, and the mother of their ten children.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Thomas MacGreevy (Actor)
Thomas MacGreevy was born in Dublin, Ireland. He started his acting career at The Abbey Theater, Dublin where he appeared in Borstal Boy (Behan), The Well of the Saints (Synge),
the world premier of Thomas Kilroy's play The O' Neill, The Quare Fellow (Behan),
The Dandy Dolls (George Fitzmaurice), Juno and the Paycock ( O'Casey). He also performed with The Abbey Theatre at the Theatre of Nations in Paris in Borstal Boy and She Stoops to Conquer (Goldsmith).
He came to New York in the mid-1970's where he appeared in Richard 11, Each in His Own Way (Pirandello), an adaptation of Chekov's The Duel, Caligula (Albert Camus), Red Peppers (Coward). He appeared in The Tavern (George M.Cohen), Hay Fever (Coward) and Mary Rose
(JM Barry) at The Provincetown Playhouse. At Syracuse Stage he appeared in the world premier of William Gibson's play The Butterfingers Angel, The Importance of being Earnest (Wilde) and Arms and the Man (Shaw).In Boston he appeared at the Chateau de Ville in Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett. At the Grand Street Theatre, Montana (Wait Until Dark – Frederick Knott.In Los Angeles Thomas has appeared in Martin McDonagh's The Cripple
of Inismaan (Geffen Playhouse) Stella by Starlight (Bernard Farrell), Laguna Playhouse,
The Importance of being Earnest, Heartbreak House, The Shadow of a Gunman, Christmas Carol, and Bloomsday - James Joyce (Ray of Light Productions). His television credits include 3 years on Ryan's Hope (New York), The Incredible Hulk, Riptide, Snoops, Lush Life, Richard 11, Romeo and Juliet, Measure for Measure, Hart to Hart (2 appearances), Love in the Present Tense, a made for TV movie, Handel, and a recurring role in Babylon 5.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Tomáseen Foley (Director/Native Irish StorytellerStoryteller)
Storyteller/Director Tomáseen Foley was born on a small farm in the remote parish of Teampall an Ghleanntáin in the West of Ireland. Rego Irish Records says he "is a master of the Irish narrative and a keeper of the flame for a priceless piece of Irish culture." Each year from Thanksgiving until Christmas his show Tomáseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas plays to critical acclaim and packed concert halls around the US. His show A Saint Patrick Celebration tours from late February through mid-March; two other shows, Tomáseen Foley’s Irish Times, and his one-man Lines from my Grandmother's Forehead tour throughout the remainder of the year.
The Oregon Cabaret has developed a hit musical from his story Parcel From America. He has released two CDs: Parcel From America, and a live recording, The Priest and the Acrobat.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Sheelagh Cullen (Actress)
Sheelagh Cullen from Limerick, Ireland, came to Los Angeles from Hong Kong, where she was co-founder of Actor's rep and involved as either actor or director in each of its 40
productions. Previously she had worked in theatre and TV in England and her
native Ireland. Here in LA she appeared in The Bald Soprano, La Bete, Senor
Galindez (for which she won a Drama-Logue Award) and The Chairs at Stages
Theatre, Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare Festival/LA, Richard III at
Theatricum Botanicum, the Madwoman of Chaillot, Brecht on Brecht and Tis
Pity she's a Whore at the Odyssey Theater and Dance with Me at the Working
Stage Theater. Last year she also worked on the independent film Myron's
Movie.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Austin Grehan (Actor)
Austin was born in Dublin, Ireland. He came to Los Angeles in 1984 and began his involvement
in the acting world by taking workshops at the Pasadena Playhouse. He made his stage debut at
Citrus College in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues and also appeared in The Marriage of Bette and Boo,
and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. At Glendale College he appeared in The Mousetrap,
Broadway Bound, Ghosts, and Dracula, for which he received three Irene Ryan Acting Competition Nominations to American College Theatre Festivals. He has also appeared in Cash On Delivery and
A MidsummerNight's Dream at Glendale Centre Theatre; Charley's Aunt, Cliffhanger, It's a Wonderful Life and Arsenic and Old Lace at the Sierra Madre Playhouse; The Glorious Uncertainty at The Victory Theatre, and Dylan, and No Second Trumpet at the Celtic Arts Center.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Kathleen Keane (Irish Fiddle, Whistles and dance) 
Once in a while, America produces an exceptional artist with tremendous versatility and talent. Such an artist is Chicago-born Kathleen Keane. Called a "child prodigy on the whistle" (Martin Hayes) "virtuoso violinist, one of the world's finest Celtic fiddlers" (Chicago Tribune), Kathleen has won numerous American and International awards. She joined Gaelic Storm in 2000, wrote, sang, played and arranged for their album Tree which went to # 2 on the Billboard World Music chart. She co-wrote, sang, produced and performed The Longing, which appeared on Windham Hill's Celtic Christmas Silver Anniversary album, staying at #1 on Billboard's World Music chart for three weeks. Kathleen has shared the stage with many great traditional Irish artists including Jimmy Keane, Mick Moloney, Robbie O' Connell, Johnny Cunningham and Eileen Ivers. You can see and hear Kathleen play in two feature films, "The Road to Perdition" and "Backdraft", and she has also played on the movie soundtrack for Universal’s, “Cinderella Man”, starring Russell Crowe. In June of 2004, Kathleen starred in the world premiere of An Evening of Irish Love and Lyrics, developed by Irish theatre director Mary Curtin for Kerry Records. Most recently Kathleen starred in Kerry Records production of A Grand Irish Variety Concert at The Shiley Theater, San Diego, The United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco and Marsee Auditorium, El Camino College, Torrance. Kathleen has recently returned to Chicago where she continues her music and acting career and is also pursuing her career as a Certified Hypnotherapist.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Bella Issakova (Celtic Fiddle)
Bella Issakova comes from a rich tradition of Bulgarian Music. She began her classical training
at the age of 5 at the Sofia National Music School, and spent many years playing and touring Europe with various orchestras and ensembles. She has been involved with musical projects around the world and has shared the stage with Zubin Meta, Kurt Mazur, Krystian Zimmerman, Martin Chalifour, actors Angelica Houston, Noah Whyle, Sir Ben Kingsley, and many other
well-known musicians and performers.
Since relocating to the U.S. in 1993, Bella has added her talent to stage and studio performances of Classical, Jazz, and Folk Music. However, an accidental exposure to Irish Traditional music captured her heart and compelled her to attend the Frankie Kennedy Winter School in Donegal in 2002. There she had the privilege of playing with members of Altan, and was mentioned in an “Irish Times” article written about the festival. At that point Irish Traditional music became a passion. Bella has since researched the many facets of the Tradition, and continues to be influenced by the Donegal, Sligo, and Clare styles of fiddling. Bella currently lives in the Los Angeles area, where she enjoys her busy teaching and performance career. Bella performs regularly with Kerry Records and will appear in the 2006 production of AN IRISH CHRISTMAS (Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre, Marsee Auditorium, Torrance and East County Performing Arts Center, El Cajon).
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Marian Tomas Griffin (Actress)
Born in New York City and raised in County Mayo, Ireland, Marian Tomas Griffin has been a part of the New York music, theatre and film scene for the past 8 years.
As a member of the Irish Repertory Theatre Marian made her debut in Frank McCourt's The Irish and How They Got That Way. Time Out Magazine called her the most talented of the lot and John Simon of New York Magazine said Marian, who acts, sings and plays several instruments, besides looking like a more delicate Maureen O'Hara, I simply lost my heart to. At the Irish Repertory Theatre Marian also appeared in The Shaughran and she has had the honor of appearing on Broadway for the past 5 years as part of the Irish Repertory Gala Benefit on Broadway with such stars as Gabriel Bryne, Sinead Cusak, Tate Donovan, Eric Stoltz, Angela Lansbury, Liam Neeson, Vanessa Redgrave, Milo O'Shea, Frances Sternhagan and Kevin Spacey.
On screen Marian has worked with Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford in Columbia Picture's The Devil's Own, in Nye Heron's Sax & Violins and the soon to be released Days of Darkness. Marian starred in CBS’ As The World Turns (Mary Mennihan) and in 2004, appeared as Typhoid Mary in the Emmy-nominated “Most Dangerous Woman in America” on PBS.
As lead singer and guitarist with many traditional Irish bands including Aisling Eire or as a solo performer Marian has entertained audiences all over New York City at venues like Tir Na Nog, Fitzer's, Tommy Makem's, Fibber McGee's, Paddy Reilly's and the Guinness Fleadh to name just a few. Her first CD Tales Of Erin released in 1998 featured the single Angela's Smile inspired by Frank McCourt's Pulitzer prize winning memoir Angela's Ashes. When Conor McCourt approached Marian to provide a song for his documentary The McCourt's of Limerick which aired on Cinemax in March 1998, he had no idea of the phenomenal reaction Angela's Smile would bring. The first national exposure of this song was Marian's appearance with Frank McCourt on CBS's Off-Tenth. Her second CD Downtown Monday Night was released in March 2002. In December 2006 Marian starred in Kerry Records production of AN IRISH CHRISTMAS at the 2,000 seat Marsee Auditorium, El Camino College, Torrance.
• Reviews
Contact: Kerry Records
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Dan Conroy
Dan Conroy – came to the performing of Irish music at the age of five. After studies at the
American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Dan moved to New York and worked with Tony award winning Director/Choreographer Tommy Tune in Grand Hotel the Musical. Moving to
Los Angeles yielded even greater opportunities and steady work in film, television, animation-voiceover, theatre, writing and traditional Irish music. In 2002 he met Patrick D’Arcy and they
formed the traditional band Clann na Gael. Dan was appointed as Artistic Director of the Celtic
Arts Center in August of ’05. He then produced and performed as an opener for Gaelic Strom to
a rollicking sold out crowd at LA’s Ford Amphitheatre the following month. Dan has been critically lauded for his work as an actor, singer, writer, director and set designer. He’d like to thank his wife Trish for all her love and support and he dedicates his endeavors to the memory of his father Eddie Conroy.
Contact: Kerry Records
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Laura Turner (Singer)
Laura Turner was born and raised in Ballymun, Dublin. She started singing at the age of four. She attended Our Lady of Victories primary school which had an exceptional choral and music teacher Mrs. Nuala Moran who invited Laura to come and study at The Holy Faith Secondary school in Glasnevin. She performed as soloist with the school choir in the Abbey Theater (A Christmas Story) and at the National Concert Hall. She was a participant and medal winner in the Feis Ahta Cliath and was the youngest member of the famous Glasnevin Musical Society. Laura was awarded a scholarship to study voice at the prestigious College of Music, Chatham Row, Dublin. Laura grew up in a family that loved to participate in the good old Irish Session or Hooley. Her grandmother and uncles had great voices. “My family would take turns, grandmother, aunts, uncles and then myself and a few other brave kids. It was the highlight of my year to spend St. Stephen’s day in my grandmother’s house in Cabra which was packed to the brim with men women and loads of grandchildren and great grandchildren with hardly room to swing a cat”. Laura is very much influenced by singers such as Mary Black, Delores Kean, Ella Fitzgerald, Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin, Kate Bush and her grandmother Lilly Browne.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Patricia Hannifan (Pianist, organist )
Patricia Hannifan serves as both Staff Accompanist and Adjunct Professor at Los Angeles Valley College and has served in the same positions at East Los Angeles College. She is also Adjunct Professor at Los Angeles City College where she teaches organ. For the past 12 years Ms. Hannifan has been the Organist at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Long Beach and has served as Interim Choir Director and Handbell Director. In addition, she is a freelance accompanist as pianist and organist in the greater Los Angeles area, accompanying students and professors at colleges, including California State Universities, Northridge and Long Beach, USC and UCLA. Ms. Hannifan also teaches piano, organ and coaches singers in her private studio.
She is presently working on a DMA in organ performance at UCLA, studying with Christoph Bull. She holds a Master's Degree in Organ Performance from the Flora L. Thorton School of Music at the University of Southern California, and a bachelor's degree in music (organ specialization) from CSU Northridge.
She has twice been awarded the Artistic Director Achievement Award for “Best Music Director” by the Valley Theater League for her work with the Woodland Hills Community Theatre. In 1998 for The Fantasticks and 2001 for The All Night Strut!
Ms. Hannifan has created arrangements for organ and brass and for five years beginning in 1988 was the principal accompanist at the Claude Gordon International Brass Workshop where she worked with prominent players such as Frank Kaderabek, principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. From 1995 to 1999 she was the Accompanist/Organist for The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company under the direction of Thomas Miyake, its founder.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Pat D'Arcy (Uilleann Pipes, whistles, vocals, bodhrán)
A Dubliner born and bread, Patrick D'Arcy has learned the art of uilleann piping from many of today's best players and a few of histories greats also. He attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and The Willie Clancy Summer School in County Clare and now passes on what he has learned to up and coming pipers. Patrick tours throughout the U.S. regularly. He has composed music for television and computer games and enjoys being a guest musician on many recordings. Patrick is the creator of the great uilleann piping website UilleannObsession.com and is also a founding member of The Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club - SoCalPipers.com He is adjunct faculty member of The Masters College Music Department.
“Patrick D'Arcy on uilleann pipes... a rare treat”
(LA Weekly)
Links:
www.patdarcy.com
UilleannObsession.com
Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Steve Forman (Bodhrán)
Steve Forman has been a professional musician since he was about 18 years old. A Los Angeles Studio percussionist and composer, his professional credits include a discography listing hundreds of artist recording projects from John Lennon to Christina Aguilera and a vast listing of underscoring projects for motion pictures, television and commercials, interactive multimedia titles, theatrical events and video.
In recent years Steve has focused particularly on the Irish bodhrán and traditional Irish music and has played and studied in Ireland in the course of several recent visits. He is a regular participating performer and recording specialist in the California Celtic community, a bodhrán maker of fine professional quality drums played today by many American bodranii. He is the author of two method books on traditional and contemporary Bodhrán technique. http://tambourine.net
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Frank Simpson (Irish flute, tin whistles)
Frank, a native of Dublin, Ireland has lived in Southern California since 1986. His long association with Irish music has provided him with a rich palette of traditional music sources that finds expression in his playing. He plays traditional Irish flute and tin whistles and performs periodically at events, festivals and concert venues throughout the Irish music circuit. He recently was awarded a Master Musician Fellowship by the Durfee Foundation. Frank has contributed to television and movie soundtracks including the IMAX movie "The Discoverers." He also teaches and conducts workshops on tin whistle and flute music both privately and at folk music festivals throughout the Southern California area, notably at the CTMS Summer Solstice Festival where he is Director for the Woodwinds Section.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Tom Wolverton (Banjo, mandolin)
Tom Wolverton was born in Newport, Rhode Island and grew up in San Diego, California. He now makes the California Central coast his home. Tom has been playing old-time 5-string banjo for over 30 years. Folk music from the American Southeast has been a specialty of his for many years. He also starting playing traditional Irish music about 10 years ago. Tom plays guitar, mandolin, whistle, Uilleann pipes, dobro and steel guitar. His skills have been used in various bands including the Gap Tooth Mountain Ramblers, the Fiddle Tunas and the Rattlesnake Creek String Band. He recently toured in Ireland playing American old-time string band music.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Andy Reilly (Bodhrán)
Andy Reilly was born into an Irish theatrical and musical family. At the age of seven he began studying drums under the watchful eye of renowned teacher Jon Murray. By the age of eleven Andy was playing drums for various shows and musical societies throughout Ireland. After finishing his studies with Jon Murray, Andy continued his tuition with one of Ireland's top session drummers Desi Reynolds, while at the same time studying percussion at The College of Music, Dublin. He later became principal percussionist with the College's Senior Orchestra, St. James Brass and Reed Band and The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Andy was invited to play in the very first performance of Riverdance, which took place at The Point Theatre, Dublin, as part of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. He went on to join the original cast of Riverdance The Show. After finishing secondary school Andy was invited to tour North America with the production. He went on to perform in such venues at The Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles, New York's Radio City Music Hall, and Madison Square Garden for the 39th Annual Grammy Awards. Television appearances include: The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O' Brien, BBC Royal Command Performance, BBC VE Day Celebrations, The Late Late Show with Gay Byrne (Ireland) and Hey Hey It's Saturday (Australia). In 1998 at the age of 19, Andy joined a new production of Riverdance The Show, and in the summer of that year he was appointed head percussionist by the show's composer Bill Whelan. He has since toured North and South America, Europe, Australia and parts of Asia. After finishing touring with the show in June 2003, Andy continued performing and recording with some of Ireland's most popular artists. Now based in Los Angeles, Andy is currently studying at the Musicians Institute.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Alicia Petrone  (Irish Harpist)
Alicia Petrone is a 15 year old harpist from Mission Viejo, CA. She is the principal harpist
for the Southern California Youth Philharmonic, and a member of Santa Margarita Catholic High chool's Chamber Orchestra. Alicia is a member of the Orange County Harp Troupe, a performance group of harpists of all ages and experience levels and has performed at the Irish Fair in Irvine from 2005-2007. As a member of the World Harp Congress, Alicia attended the 2005 event in Dublin, Ireland. In July 2007, Alicia traveled to Australia and New Zeland with the Orange County Junior Orchestra where they presented the world premier of "Dazzling Lights" by composer Roger Cichy at the Sidney Opera House. Alicia made her debut with Kerry Records in 2006 in AN IRISH CHRISTMAS at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre, Marsee Auditorium, El Camino College, Torrance and East County Performing Arts Center, El Cajon. ALICIA is invited back to participate in Kerry Records Christmas tour – AN IRISH CHRISTMAS 2007.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Barry Fisher  (Guitar)
Barry has been playing Guitar since the ripe old age of 12. He came to playing the traditional music of Ireland in the early 1980’s and once involved in the music has been hopelessly hooked for over 25 years. After receiving tutelage from the fabulous Guitar player, singer and songwriter Gerry Obeirne in the mid-80’s. and armed with Gerry’s innovative tuning and the style that fawning guitar players have dubbed the Gerry Obeirne Rhythm Method, Barry has tramped up and down the West Coast of the United States playing at various sessions, performances and Tionels (gatherings) from San Diego to Seattle. Locally, Barry has been a member of the well-known ‘trad.’ bands Riverrun, Gold Ring, and Crannog. He has performed with Crannog at the CTMS Summer Solstice Festival on several occasions and with Gold Ring at the Los Angeles Irish Faire. With Crannog he has played at the Milwaukee Irish Fair, the largest such gathering in the United States. Barry has also had the great fortune to play in several ensemble performances with noted musicians Frank Simpson, Patti Amelotte, Cait Reed, Richard Gee, Eric Rigler, Paddy O’Nealm, Kevin Crehan and Sean Nos singer Lilis O Laoire to name a few. He has also played with the fusion band Bad Haggis. Barry can be heard playing in sessions at Finn McCool’s Pub in Santa Monica or The Auld Dubliner in Long Beach on Sundays from 4 – 7 pm and in various gigs around the Southland.
Contact: Kerry Records |
John McKenna (actor/singer/musician)
John was born in the Bronx NYC to Irish immigrant parents and for that he is eternally grateful. He came to the acting community later than most. He is a member of the heralded Theatre Banshee in Burbank and was recently seen in their production of the award winning Dockers and the critically acclaimed William Shakespeare play Henry IV Part I. He played Coleman in the Celtic Arts Center's production of Martin McDonagh's Lonesome West and more recently played Pato Dooley in Brian Patrick Mulligan's much lauded production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane. As a musician, John performed with Stan and the Phantoms during the coffee house revival of the late 90's and is now a featured singer and box player in the legendary LA based Celtic trad/rock quintet Slugger O'Toole.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Christa Burch (Singer and bodhrán)
Singer and bodhrán player Christa Burch's supple, expressive voice is fresh, powerful, and instantly recognizable. In the tradition of great singers such as June Tabor, Susan McKeown, and Sandy Denny, Christa marries an extraordinary gift for storytelling to intuitive musicianship, bringing vividly to life the moods and nuances of the great songs of the Celtic tradition.
Part of a vibrant new generation of American folk singers, Christa has lent her distinctive voice to many West Coast projects, working with keepers of the tradition such as master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser, as well as updating the tradition with The Syncopaths.
She works with experimental projects like the a capella duet Lintie and nouveau-Celtic band Blackwaterside, and makes guest appearances with many other fine artists. Her non-traditional bodhrán style lends power and groove to her signature sound, illuminating the many and varied rythms inherent in Celtic tunes.
Christa is just completing her debut CD, tentatively titled “Love of the Land.” It is being produced by renowned guitarist Dennis Cahill, and features appearances by talented musicians John Doyle, John Williams, Richard Mandel, Liz Knowles, Olivier Longuet, Kieran O’Hare, and Kat Eggleston.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Andrea Willoughby (Irish Dancer, choreographer)
Andrea Willoughby was born in Indiana and raised in Missouri. As a teenager she traveled to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Costa Rica and Mexico with the Young Singers of Missouri and the Missouri Youth Choral and spent a year of high school in Germany. She was a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps where she worked as a cryptologist and electronic intelligence analyst. Andrea studied foreign languages, astrophysics, theatre and dance at the University of Missouri St. Louis and Southwest Missouri State. She appeared in an adaptation of “The Spoon River Anthology”, “The Little Prince”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, “W.A.S.P.”, “The Hot Mikado”, “Dark of the Moon” and “Li’l Abner.” Andrea was trained in Jazz, Tap, Modern, Latin and Ballroom dance, and in 1998, she moved to Dublin, Ireland to study Irish dance. She came to Los Angeles in 1999 to continue her training with the O'Connor School of Irish Dance where she competed throughout the U.S. and in Canada and Ireland until 2006, when she retired to dance professionally and return to acting. Andrea has performed and choreographed for numerous shows with Kerry Records since 2005. She now focuses on her acting career and also works as a model, dance teacher and real estate appraiser and is currently writing her first musical.
Contact: Kerry Records |
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Philip Brady (Irish Dancer)
Philip Brady began dancing at the age of 10 in Dublin, Ireland. He spent the next 15 Years developing what was to become an extraordinary competitive dance career. He was a five-time Overseas World Champion, a three-time North American Champion, and won the Canadian Irish Dance Championship 10 consecutive years. In 1994, Philip turned his focus to teaching in Edmonton, Alberta, and in 1996, he moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba to expand the already successful dance company, The Brady Academy of Irish Dance. In 1999, Philip began touring extensively with the international dance phenomen "Lord of the Dance". He spent the first half of the season touring with the North American troupe and then later settled in to the rigorous schedule preforming two to three shows a day in Las Vegas.
Philip continues to perform whenever possible, with such artists as the Chieftains, but remains focused on the Brady Academy of Irish Dance and on the development and enrichment of the abilities of his students. He has produced numerous champion dancers in solo and ceili dancing and travels extensively througout North America directing workshops.
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Brenna Radding  (Irish Dancer)
Born in Los Angeles, Brenna starting dancing at age 2-1/2. Following in her big sister's footsteps, she also began acting and modeling for various catalogs like Disney and Mattel. She can be seen on many of the toy packaging for Baby Bratz, Polly Pocket, Disney Princess and for Disney’s 50th celebration she is on billboards across the United States and all the buses near Disneyland. She has appeared in many commercials and in television roles including CSI: New York with Gary Sinise. Currently, she is a cast member of NCIS as Kelly Gibbs, Mark Harmon’s daughter. Like her sister, Brenna is proud to be a part of the O’Connor School of Irish Dance with TCRG Bella Yerina and The Dance Experience Stars National Show team directed by Holly and Kevin Diaz. Brenna also loves to paint and draw and wants to be an artist when she grows up.
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Brooke Radding  (Irish Dancer)
Brooke began her professional career early by acting in her first commercial at 18 months old and by four years of age she was a recurring cast member of the daytime soap General Hospital. Since then she has worked with many actors including Noah Wylie, Tyne Daly and Frankie Muniz, and with two of the Desperate Housewives stars Marcia Cross and Doug Savant. Continuing a family tradition, Brooke began Irish Dance classes with Bella Yerina, and loves to compete with the O'Connor School of Irish Dance. She is accomplished in a variety of other dance styles (Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop). She has performed in several music videos and has trained with Shane Sparks, Brian Freidman and Wade Robson, Hollywoods top choreographers made famous from the television show So You think you can Dance. Her episodic television credits include Judging Amy, The District, Malcolm in the Middle, Everwood, Mad TV, Yes Dear, and The George Lopez Show. In addition to making it on to her high school dance team, Brooke keeps very busy with her acting, modeling and dance all the while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Brooke is proud to be on the Stars National Showteam directed and inspired by Holly and Kevin Diaz and to be the youngest member on her high School's USA National Champion dance team.
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Jennifer Keogh  (Irish Dancer)
Jennifer was born in Dublin, Ireland. She began dancing at the age of
four for The Mona Bolton School of Irish Dance. She is a champion dancer, winning both in English and Irish National competition. At 15 her family decided to relocate to Philadelphia where she continued to dance. Two years later Jennifer returned home and she joined The Rory O'Connor School of Irish Dance. She represented Dublin as Ms Dublin Photogenic in The Miss Ireland Pageant, 2000. Jennifer was a volunteer for The Special Olympics World Games 2003 in Dublin. She moved to Los Angeles in 2005. She loves all forms of dancing but Irish dance has always been her favorite. Jennifer is a regular performer in all Kerry Records shows and can be seen in all performances of AN IRISH CHRISTMAS 2007. Jennifer is a qualified masseuse. She graduated from Elegance Institute in Hollywood. She is a busy freelance makeup artist working in Los Angeles with various well-known photographers including Natalie Young and Jamie Quatt. She works the LA fashion show circuit, commercials, music videos, exercise videos and television. She has worked along side Deborah Patino (Pirates of the Caribbean) on Polly Parsons production of 'Taking the Jesus Pill', television shows for LaSienne Makeup (she was the make up artist for their live television shows for Tapesh and ITN TV stations); Motely Crue music video, American Greeting E Cards, make up artist on Ashley Marriotts Burn N Firm exercise DVD and many other makeup projects.
Jennifer is the official Kerry Records makeup artist.
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Daryl Goldes  (Irish Dancer)
Daryl Goldes was born in Los Angeles. She began Irish dancing at age 11. Daryl has gone on to compete in the Western region and national championships for the past several years, getting 13th overall at the Western Region Oireachtas in Portland, Oregon in November 2006. In 2005, she reached the highest possible level of Irish dancing and is now working towards her goal of dancing in the World Championships in Ireland in 2008. Daryl has experience in other types of dance, including hip hop, modern and ballet, but her first love will always be Irish dance. Daryl loves to be onstage and has performed in student-written and directed plays. When not dancing, Daryl is a dedicated pre-nursing student at College of the Canyons and is a youth leader at her church.
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Thomas Kerrigan (Poet and Playwright)
T.S. Kerrigan recently retired from the law after a convincing victory in the United States Supreme Court and serving as the President of the Irish-American Bar Association. He is an accomplished poet and playwright and is a former theater critic and longtime member of The
Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle. His plays "Branches Among the Stars" (concerning the youth of James Joyce) was presented at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, and "A Thorn in the Heart," a treatment of incest in Ireland was presented successfully at the Globe Playhouse. His poetry has been in too many journals in England, Ireland and America to list here. Former Poet Laureate Richard Wilbur described his poetry as "full of life, authority, playfulness, and good rhythms. Renowned poet X.J. Kennedy, former Poetry Editor of Paris Review, has hailed his work as a "rich and vivid collection admirable for the verve of its language-handling. His poetry is included in many anthologies including Garrison Keillor's Good Poems (Viking-Penguin 2002), Off the Record (U. of West Virginia 2004), In the West of Ireland (Lisselton, County Kerry 1992), and several others. Some of his poems have appeared in Another Bloomsday at Molly Malone's and Other Poems issued by the Inevitable Press of Laguna, California in 1999.
"Kerrigan is today's new word visionary."
Robert Benn, Coastlines Magazine
"... a real, honest-to-goodness poet whose poems pass the supreme test-
they can send chills down your back."
Polly Warfield, Backstage West
Photo Credit: Elizabeth McCallan
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John Menaghan (Poet)
Director of both the Irish Studies Minor and Summer in Ireland programs at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, teaches courses in Irish literature and culture, twentieth-century literature, the dramatic monologue, and creative writing.
"All the Money in the World," his first book of poetry, was published in Ireland by Salmon Poetry and distributed in the U.S. by Dufour Editions. His second book, "She Alone, "will be published (again by Salmon) in 2006. "A Rumor of Rain," his short play, was chosen for inclusion in both the American Theatre Association's New Play Development Workshop (July 2005) and the LMU New Works Festival (April 2005). He is working on a book-length collection of monologues, "Angelus Place," loosely based on his own family history, that traces a migration from Dublin and Mayo to New York, California and beyond, and a novel set in 17th-century Ireland & Montserrat.
Winner of an Academy of American Poets prize and several other awards, he has given poetry readings and talks on Irish topics in a variety of venues across America as well as in Ireland, Hungary, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. His poems and translations have appeared in U.S. and Irish journals including Atlanta Review, Poetry Ireland, The Cuirt Journal, Working Papers in Irish Studies, Occident, Berkeley Poetry Review, Boston College Magazine, Song, California Quarterly, Salome, Syracuse Review, Syracuse Poems and Stories, Bloodroot, and Stylus. His articles (on James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and Robert Browning) have appeared in University of Toronto Quarterly and Colby Quarterly, and his chapter on Maeve Brennan is forthcoming in Too Smart to be Sentimental, a volume of essays on Irish American Women Writers.
John M. Menaghan, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of English
Director, Irish Studies & Summer in Ireland Programs
University Hall, Suite 3800
Loyola Marymount University
One LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045
USA
Phone: 310-338-3043
Fax: 978-359-7707
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Neil O' Shea (Actor)
Neil O'Shea is from Dublin, Ireland. He attended the Abbey Theatre School of Acting for a period and appeared in plays in both the Abbey (The National Theatre) and the Peacock Theatres. Over the years he has appeared in many of Dublin's Theatres including The Lantern, Players Theatre (Trinity College - now part of the Samuel Beckett Centre), The Project, The Focus and Andrews Lane Studio. For many years he
has had an association with The Irish Actors Theatre Company touring with them in various shows to Europe and the USA. In recent years he has developed his one man show “The Irish Writers Entertain” performing each summer at the Dublin Writers Museum and touring in Germany and the USA. In the spring of 1999 he did a Residency at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and also performed a number of shows at the University of Dayton. In the autumn of 1999 he toured with the Irish American Cultural Institute performing this show in some 15 cities over about 18 days! Since then he has returned to do a number of tours and university residencies in places like Cincinnati, Ohio, Charleston, South Carolina and La Verne, California.
As well as performing "The Irish Writers Entertain" he has also performed a show on "Love" in Germany and has developed a "Wilde Walk" in Dublin around the area associated with Oscar Wilde and a number of other writers such as Yeats and Shaw. He has also had a career in Radio and Television with the National Broadcaster RTE where he presented Radio programs, acted as announcer on TV and wrote and performed in late night comedy sketches on TV. He has also presented an Arts Program and a Jazz program on Dublin Radio stations “Lite FM” and “Q102.”
Neil has a B.A. Degree from University College Dublin (originally Newman’s University where James Joyce studied) in English, Political Economy and Archaeology and also a
Higher Diploma in Education from the same university.
"...a superior salon piece...his is a relaxed illustration of the art that disguises itself...
the actor-host is in complete control..."
Irish Times
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Carl Hession is regarded as one of the finest soloists, accompanists, composers and arrangers in present day Irish music. 
His background, however, covers many facets of music as his training extends from traditional to modern and on to classical music and jazz.
Having studied classical piano, he moved to University College Cork from his native
Galway where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Music, specializing in keyboard improvisation. This flair for improvisation helped his creativity and his journey into jazz where he played with the world-renowned violin virtuoso Stephane Grappeli.
Throughout Carl Hession's recording career he has worked with his good friends
Frankie Gavin and Joe Derrane from the traditional idiom as well as Mary Coughlan
from the Jazz/Blues world, and has recorded with world renowned jazz guitarist
Louis Stewart.
Mr. Hession's flair for orchestration is evident in the compositions he has written and arranged for numerous orchestras and ensembles, and in his collaboration with Aidan O'Carroll on "Songs My Mother Taught Me", Kerry Records inaugural CD.
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