Liam
O'Flynn
Rita
Connolly
LIAM
O'MAONLAI (singer) ...Is a songman in the Irish 'Sean
Nos' tradition. His father was his first teacher at home in
Cluain Sceach, Co. Dublin. He studied with Aine Uí Channainn
after school hours and during lunchbreaks when he discovered
a passion and an understanding of the Indo-European singing
style. "My mother is a Galway woman. That, I believe is where
the genetic imprint comes from...." As a young teenager he became
respected as an able exponent. At one time he also became involved
in the Punk movement as a form of identity and expression flavoured
by the discovery of Rasta Roots Music. None of this influenced
his growing love of native singing dancing and playing. "I believe
Irish culture at its essence provides great context for the
development of any modern culture.." After leaving school, he
went on to form the Hothouse Flowers winning the attention of
the Irish people and later people from many parts of the world.
Sean Nos found its way onto this stage through The Flowers.
Now Liam is working on a solo traditional LPCD and a new Hot
House Flowers collection. Liam first met and worked with Shaun
Davey when Shaun was producing OUT TO AN OTHER SIDE with Liam
O'Flynn. Later he sang for Shaun on the soundtrack for the film
WAKING NED DEVINE.
HELEN
DAVIES (harp soloist) Originally from Wales, Helen Davies
was for many years harpist with the RTE concert orchestra. For
the past 10 years she has been based in Copenhagen and has recorded
and toured the world extensively both with her husband, trumpeter
Palle Mikkelborg and with the medieval music group Alba. Her
association with the music of Shaun Davey goes back many years;
she is featured on both the Pilgrim and Granuaile and was principal
soloist in his DOUBLE HARP CONCERTO commissioned by the Northern
Irish Arts Council in 1992. Helen has recently completed her
first solo album which is due for release later this year.
NOEL
ECCLES ( solo percussion) Noel was principal percussionist
with the RTE Symphony Orchestra for 18 years. For many years
he was also principal percussionist with Irish Film Orchestras
and an early member of MOVING HEARTS. Since 1995 he has been
principal percussionist in and musical director of RIVERDANCE
THE SHOW in the U.S, Europe and Australasia. Touring and recording
credits include: U2, Van Morrison, The Corrs, The Chieftains,
Mike Oldfield, Barry Manilow, Elvis Costello, Sinead O'Connor,
Eleanor MacEvoy, Christy Moore, Liam O'Flynn, Rita Connolly
and Davy Spillane.
EOGHAN O'NEILL
(electric bass) has played with virtually the entire
Irish music industry as well as international artists including
Chris Rea, Terence Trent-Derby and Elvis Costello. He was a
founding member of MOVING HEARTS and was a member of the original
RIVERDANCE THE SHOW band for which he was also musical director
in the U.S. He recently produced an album for HERITAGE DES CELTS.
ROD
McVEY(keyboards) Rod McVey, who comes from Belfast, is
regarded as one of Ireland's finest keyboard players and musical
directors. He has performed live and in studio with some of
the top Irish artists including Van Morrison, Liam O'Flynn,
Maura O'Connell, Christy Henessey, Dolores Keane, Nollaig Casey
& Arty McGlynn. Rod's production credits include a number of
albums for Andy White as well as a number of tracks for the
Maura O'Connell album 'Always'. He has also written and produced
soundtracks for a number of radio and television documentaries.
Television credits include appearances with Kris Kristofferson,
Kirsty McColl, The Kinks, Christy Moore, The Proclaimers and
Ian Dury. He recently spent a season as musical director for
the highly successful 'Kelly' show on Ulster Television.
ARTY
McGLYNN (guitarist) Arty is one of the most sought after
producer/arranger/musicians in the country, playing and recording
with the likes of Christy Moore, Paul Brady, Donal Lunny, Liam
O'Flynn, Four Men and a Dog, Christy Hennessy, Francis Black.
He played as a member of such prestigious groups as Planxty,
Patrick Street, De Danann and the Van Morrison Band. His own
albums include McGLYNN'S FANCY, and with his wife, fiddle player,
Nollaig Casey LEAD THE KNAVE and CAUSEWAY. In 1990 they were
awarded the Belfast Telegraph Entertainment Media and Arts Award
for excellence in the field of Folk Music. He and Nollaig collaborated
on the music for the films MOONDANCE and HEAR MY SONG, and are
also featured musicians on the soundtrack for WAKING NED DEVINE.
He co-produced Liam O'Flynn's album THE PIPER'S CALL
