Ardara musician ‘delighted’ at Cup of Tae Festival honour alongside wife
Jim and Fiona Byrne were Guests of Honour at 2026 Cup of Tae Festival
Musician, Jim Byrne said that he was “delighted” to be named as Guest of Honour, with his wife, Fiona at a packed Cup of Tae festival at his adopted residence of Ardara.
Jim and Fiona Byrne were recognised as the 2026 edition’s Guest of Honour at the Cup of Tae Festival in Ardara, which honours the legacy of John “The Tae” Gallagher, a renowned fiddler from the area, and showcases the rich, traditional Irish music and dance heritage of County Donegal.
This year’s festival was particularly significant, as it was the first festival since the passing of former Chairman, Stephen McCahill, and coincided with the reopening of the Nesbitt Arms Hotel under the McCafferty's branding.
Jim said: “There’s always a great buzz around Ardara for the Cup of Tae Festival, and this year, that buzz was very evident. The town was packed all weekend, and the music was flying.
“It felt especially poignant after a very difficult year in Ardara with the loss of the festival founder, Stephen McCahill, but his presence was very much felt throughout the weekend.
“We were delighted to be part of it all, and honoured to have found such a welcome in our adopted home of Ardara, and the music community in Donegal.”
On Sunday, May 3, the Nesbitt Arms hosted a concert in tribute to Stephen McCahill, which featured many of Stephen’s “Singer and Musician friends from the Corner House bar and past performers who have graced the stage of the Sunday Night "Cup of Tae" Concert.”
The festival also held music classes for several instruments during the weekend, as well as musical performances and workshops at The Heritage Centre, and open-air recitals at The Diamond.
Jim and Fiona were featured at a concert on the opening night of the festival at The Beehive.
A festival tribute on the couple who have lived in Ardara for 18 years read: “Jim is a sought-after guitar player and singer. His rhythmic guitar style provides a strong and colourful backbone for melody players, and he accompanies songs with an insightful and sensitive touch. He has toured and recorded widely in various settings, including with Belfast-based band Craobh Rua, and also with many Donegal instrumentalists.
“Fiona is a highly regarded singer whose repertoire comes from her native Scotland as well as the Irish tradition. She has sung at festivals and singing sessions throughout the UK and Ireland, and recently featured on TG4's Geantrai series alongside Jim. She now also plays the fiddle, learning from many of the great Donegal players in the area.
“For several years, Jim and Fiona edited and produced The Living Tradition magazine, a well-respected worldwide traditional music publication. But they are most at home in the traditional music session, and have been found at the heart of many of these in the Ardara area over the years, working hard to make them a welcoming and fun environment where people can join in and feel at home.”