2025 AUSTIN CELTIC FESTIVAL PERFORMERS

GERRY O'CONNOR
WITH
DON PENZIEN

Hailing from Dundalk, County Louth, Gerry grew up immersed in a musical family—learning fiddle at his mother’s knee and training under renowned Sligo master John Joe Gardiner. A four-time Fiddler of Oriel champion, he’s celebrated for his fluid, ornamented style and pulsating dance rhythms. A founding member of the bands Skylark and Lá Lúgh, Gerry’s 2004 solo album Journeyman garnered acclaim, and in 2018 he was honored with the prestigious Gradam Bardic Award for lifetime contributions to Irish traditional arts.

Don Penzien has long been a top-flight performer of Irish traditional music. It was the never- ending traditional music playing at the Irish pub he frequented while earning his Ph.D. (clinical psychology) in Athens, Ohio that inspired Don to play and where he began his exclusive use of the “DADGAD” guitar tuning with tips from such notables as Zan McLeod and Daíthí Sproule.

IONA FYFE

Aberdeenshire folksinger, Iona Fyfe, has become one of Scotland’s finest singers, rooted deeply in the singing traditions of the North East of Scotland. In 2021, she became the first singer to win the coveted title of Musician of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. A two-time winner of Scots Singer of the Year, Iona has performed across Europe, the US, Canada and Australia. Iona is a fierce advocate for the official recognition of the Scots Language, leading a successful campaign to pressure Spotify into recognising Scots and add it to its list of languages. Honoured at the Scots Language Awards with the title of Speaker of the Year in 2021, Iona performs both folk and pop songs in the Scots language, remaining true to her rooting in tradition. Iona has featured in several publications including The Sunday Post, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Times. She won Scots Singer of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in 2018 and was described as “one of the best Scotland has to offer.”

Diarmuid Ó Meachair
WITH
COLMAN CONNOLLY

Diarmuid Ó Meachair is an Accordion player from Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork. He is also an accomplished Melodeon player and sean-nós singer. He was awarded the prestigious TG4 Young Musician of the Year award in 2022. Diarmuid is part of the teaching staff at the Department of Music in UCC, and he teaches Irish Music at Holy Cross University, Worcester, Massachusetts.

He has been nominated for 3 RTÉ Folk Awards as "Best instrumentalist" (2023 & 2024) and "Best emerging artist" (2023). A native Irish speaker from Cúil Aodha in the Múscraí Gaeltacht, Diarmuid has won many sean nós singing competitions at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge.

In 2016, Diarmuid won the Senior All-Ireland melodeon title at the Fleadh in Ennis at 19 years of age.

SteepleChase

Steeplechase came about in the tried and true manner of Irish music bands throughout the centuries, which is to say, at the session. It became clear that these horses could pull in the same direction, and thus a band was born. Three of the four members have connections to Maine, but they all managed to find their way to the northwest corner of these United States—fortunately for them, you can get heeyah from theyah. In addition to the multi-generational representation, there is a tremendous height disparity; a fact they try to mask unsuccessfully by playing seated. While their paths to taking up traditional music may vary wildly, their passion for, and love of this art form is unquestionably shared.

The Prodigals

Austin's favorite NYC band leader is returning with accordion-led madness and rousing songs.

Gregory combines original lyrics and melody with a genuine passion for the traditional music of Ireland and a funky energy that is pure New York. The roots of the music are unmistakably traditional Irish; the branches that shoot off delve into rock, worldbeat, jazz, and punk, and the result has been called “the best Irish trad-rock band.”

RIVER DRIVER

River Driver’s diverse and unique repertoire of Americana folk rock, combined with their electrifying live performances, captivates audiences from the first note. Whether charging into the crowd mid-song or leaping from table to table in lively pub gigs, fiddler Shelly New and guitarist Michael Logan exude energy that’s impossible to resist—sparking dancing, clapping, singing, and celebratory cheers from every corner of the room. Their diverse repertoire spans from Hank Williams to Guns N’ Roses, weaving bluegrass, Cajun, Texas country, Celtic, and Americana folk into a unique, high-energy tapestry. With creative arrangements, powerhouse vocals, and screaming fiddle solos, River Driver guarantees an unforgettable experience!

Scottish Country Dance Alliance

SCDA hosts an all-ages Scottish Country Dance workshop at the Festival. See the schedule for the time and place and come and enjoy the social dance of Scotland. If you like it, try out our weekly classes (Sunday evenings at 6 pm, 8018 Mesa Drive). Also, visit our ever-popular bake sale to enjoy our home-baked goodies.

THE YOKES

Proudly contributing to the next generation of Austin's Celtic music scene. Austin Band playing Irish Pub Songs, Sea Shanties, Maritime, and Celtic inspired music for your enjoyment.

INISHFREE AUSTIN
IRISH DANCERS

The Inishfree School of Irish Dancing has been one of the most prominent Irish Dance classes in the state of Texas for over 15 years. In this time, children and adults have gained more than just the ability to dance. Inishfree School of Irish Dancing Texas offers Irish dance lessons to children and adults in Austin, San Antonio, Round Rock/Georgetown, and Kyle/BudaClasses focus on developing a strong work ethic, focus, achievement, and good sportsmanship, and making lifelong friends.

Inishfree Austin is under the direction of former Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames Lead Dancer, Patrick McCarthy, Championship Dancer, Pierce Beach, and Kathleen McCarthy is our guest teacher and is also a former Lord of the Dance Lead Dancer. Emily Touzin and Leslie Touzin Middleton are guest teachers from our sister school in Dallas, Texas.

Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums
SUNDAY ONLY

Silver Thistle has been participating in pipe band competitions and performing in Texas and worldwide for more than 45 years. We are dedicated to serving the greater Austin area through quality performances and education.

Under the leadership of Pipe Major Ken Liechti and Drum Sergeant Stephen Dick, our corps consists of many pipers and drummers who learned to play through our band’s own lesson system. Other players came to us with experience from other bands. We are a global community with members from Scotland, South Africa, and Canada, as well as our homegrown musicians. We are proud to represent Texas both locally and abroad.