SEOID at the Coleman Music Centre, Gurteen

SEOID Sligo’s newest trad group will perform a live concert at the Coleman Music Centre in Gurteen on August 16 at 8pm as part of the Coleman Traditional Festival.

Sligo’s trad group is composed by Kenny Donagher, Kerrie Herrity, Fiachra Guihen and John Dwyer. Together, they will perform an amazing night. 

Kerrie Herrity compositions are primarily inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Sligo where she is now based. She is a Maugherow native and former All Ireland Banjo Senior Champion. She was introduced to music and dancing by her parents early in Luton, UK where a thriving Irish scene nurtured and encouraged her progression on several instruments. In recent years Kerrie has begun composing some of her own music which are included in the album ‘Box and Banjo’, with box player Kenny Donagher. 

Kerrie completed her TTCT in 2017 and continues to teach and adjudicate at both national and international Fleadhanna along with being a regular tutor at Ireland's leading Summer Schools. In 2015 Kerrie was instrumental in gathering support to establish the Benbulben Comhaltas Branch which now has an active following and hosts the Knocklane Traditional Festival.

Kerrie has performed with many groups and artists to date including a performance on Broadway with the dance group ‘Shaylyn’, and various Comhaltas Tours the UK, and United States.

Kenny Donagher is an accordion player who grew up in a family steeped in music in Easkey in County Sligo. From a young age Kenny joined the family on stage for concerts, céilithe, at fleadhanna and on radio and television.

After a few years involved with drama and musical theatre, Kenny got the opportunity to work in local radio as a sound engineer and subsequently as the presenter of the station’s traditional music programme for the best part of a decade.

Kenny has also explored many other music genres from blues to folk as a soloist and band member on keyboard, blues harmonica and backing vocals, as well as on accordion. In 2015 he recorded and produced an album in 2015 with Kerrie Herrity which was launched at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Sligo 2015 which featured on Fleadh TV that year.

He has featured on a number of recordings since and has played at numerous festivals and concerts both at home and abroad over the last 3 decades. His traditional music style is rooted in Sligo fiddle music but is also peppered with contemporary influences and newly composed music.

John Dwyer comes from Mullaghroe, about 2 miles from Gurteen Village. From a very early age John’s interest in traditional music was influenced, encouraged and nurtured by his late grandmother ‘Babs’ Dwyer. During his informative years he attended music classes for tin whistle in Gurteen with teachers Paddy Ryan & PJ Hernon. Later he progressed to the concert flute and piano. In teenage years he was introduced to the late ‘Ted McGowan’ academy…The Róisín Dubh in Gurteen. Here John had the opportunity to meet with, listen to, learn from and play with some of the all-time greats…Peter Horan, Tom McGowan, Kevin O’Brien, Andy Davey, to name but a few.

Over the years John has played with and accompanied many trad groups, notably Shebeen and Céilí bands for Fleadhanna. Besides playing music John is actively involved in carrying on the tradition in his tutoring role at the South Sligo Summer School in Tubbercurry and promoting the best of traditional music, song and dance as events organiser at the Coleman Music Centre in Gurteen.

Fiachra Guihen hails from between Keadue and Arigna in Co. Roscommon. He comes from a musical family. Fiachra started playing music when he was seven years old.  He started on the tin whistle and then moved to the flute and later when he was fifteen to the harp. More recently he has taken up playing guitar and piano. By day he is a teacher in Co. Leitrim but by night he is a busy musician. He plays regularly all around the locality at sessions, concert and at gigs with a few different groups but mainly with Gan Ainm.

Come along for a great night’s entertainment. Adm €15 Call 071 9182599 for ticket or www.colemanirishmusic.com.