The Begley Family
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The Begley Family

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"CELTIC COLOURS, CAPE BRETON"

The Begley family was a great hit at the 2009 Celtic Colours International Festival. Breanndan, his two sons and teenage daughter not only demonstrated the depth and quality of Irish music and dance, they were also living proof of how the culture is being passed down from one generation to the next. This connected them instantly with the local players in Cape Breton who have learned their craft in the same way. The Begleys are the real thing!

- Joella Foulds, Artistic Director Celtic Colours International Festival


"CELTIC CUBAN FESTIVAL"

One of the highlights of CeltFest Cuba 2010 was the Begley family. I don’t think you’ll find a better set of session and concert musicians on the traditional music scene.

Whether on stage, in session or in leading workshops their joyous participation in all that the festival had to offer was infectious.

Breanndán, the patriarch of the clan, is an expert at playing the box and singing in a lovely traditional Kerry style, and didn’t think twice about organizing an impromptu “Céilí” on the street, in Plaza de Armas – ably abetted by his sons Bréanainn on guitar and Cormac on concertina.

Their sense of fun and committed engagement added an extra dimension to the festival. We look forward to having them back in the near future!

- Cillín Ó Cinneide (Artistic Director, CeltFest Cuba)


Discography

Brendan Begley

Solo CD's:
1. "Seana Choirce" (Gael Linn 1987)
2. "We Won't Go Home 'till Morning (1997)
3. "It Could Be a Good Night Yet" (2002)
4. "Fé Scáth/In The Shadow" (2011)

With Boys of the Lough: Recorded five albums.
With Beginish: Recorded two albums

Appeared on two Chieftains albums "The Long Black Veil" and "The Bells of Dublin"

Also appeared on albums with Na Cassadaigh and Stockton's Wing

Cormac Begley: Recorded with Jack Talty (2011) "Na Fir Bolg"

Audio uploaded to EPK are recordings of Brendan Begley only

Photos

Bio

Begley Family
Born into a famous musical family, the youngest of nine children, Brendan soaked up the music and song of West Kerry from an early age. Slides, polkas, songs and slow airs all run through his veins. He now carries on the tradition of his home place while playing with the next generation of Begley’s, namely his children Bréanainn on Guitar, Cormac on concertina, Conchúbhair on accordion and Cliodhna on fiddle ans sean-nós dancing. He has three acclaimed solo albums to his name, as well as numerous recordings with the groups Boys of the Lough and Beginish. He has also featured on recording with bands such as the Chieftains and Stocktons Wing. With the Boys of the Lough, he has toured extensively throughout the United States, and has been featured repeatedly on the Garrison Keilor Show. He also does work with TG4 researching and presenting proggrammes and also is involved in the organising of Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh which is held in west Kerry each February.www.scoilcheoil.com

Bréanainn is the eldest son of the Begley family. He is the guitarist with the Begleys. He plays both nylon stringed and steel stringed guitars which he plays in ’Drop-D’ tuning mostly but also plays standard tuning along with DADF#AD and DADFAD. He performs regularly both nationally and internationally with various singers and musicians and as a solo performer. Bréanainn is influenced by a varied of music genres/styles such as rock, jazz, Gypsy, Mediterranean, Balkan, flamenco, blues and traditional Irish music. His main influence within the tradition on guitar are Steve Cooney,Tim Edey and Gavin Ralston and Arty McGlynn.

Cormac is a concertina player and is the second eldest in the family. Growing up in Dublin, he was exposed to many musicians from around Ireland, both at parties at his home in Lucan and at sessions in Hughes pub. He is influenced by music from East Clare, specifically from musicians such as Mary and Andrew Mac Namara, Martin Hayes and Paddy Canny. He is also strongly influenced by musicians from Kerry such as Johnny O Leary, his uncles Tommy ‘an Lord’ O Connor and Seamus Begley, Maurice Quinn and Muiris Ó Dalaigh. Cormac collects concertinas and plays anglo concertinas (such as C/G, G/D, Ab/Eb systems) and a baritone concertina (Bf/F). He is currently recording a duet album with accordion player, Andrew Mac Namara (http://www.myspace.com/begley_macnamara) and working on concertina duet with Jack Talty. He teaches regularly in Galway and at festivals including Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh and Willie Clancy Summer School.

Conchúbhair is the third member of the Begley family and the youngest of three brothers. Conchubhair plays the accordion (C#/D style) and sometimes plays the uileann pipes and tin whistle. He claims to have been forced to play the accordion at the age of 7. His influences include Johnny O’Leary and his uncles Séamus Begley and Tommy ‘alrite-cha’ an Lord. He has attended the Willie Clancy summer school for a number of years and has learnt a lot from accordion players such as Charlie Harris and Colm Gannon.

Clíodhna, the youngest member of the family, plays the fiddle, the viola and also sean nós dances (an older style of traditional solo Irish dancing). She was firstly influenced by her family but later began listening to the likes of Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford who have had a significant influence on her. She has attended numerous festivals and is influenced by fiddle players such as Caoimhín O Raghallaigh, Eithne Ní Chatháin, Dermy Diamond, Bernadette McCarthy, Úna Ní Chiosáin and Connie O Connell. She learnt sean nós dancing when she was 8 years old with her mother at the well known Willie Clancy Summer School from Mick Mulkerins an Mairead Casey. She also learnt Irish dancing but enjoyed the casual freeness of the sean nós dancing. Since then she has gone to workshops with Roisín Ní Mhainín and is fond of dancers such as Seosaimh Ó Neachtain, Nic Gareiss and Sibéal Davitt.