Alltacht
Alltacht
Alltacht is a newly formed band, consisting of current and former Irish World academy students Jamie Troy, Sarah Fox, Ciarán O’Connell and Liam Broderick. They come together blending their music and songs into a unique style, playing both traditional and modern tunes and songs with a modern style of accompaniment. They won the Molloy Award at the Birmingham Trad Fest in 2024; an award that strives to seek out new musical talent and award excellence and innovation within the idiom of Irish Traditional Music and Song. As a reward for winning, Alltacht opened the festival club for the Birmingham Trad Fest and will perform as a support act at next year’s festival.
Band Members’ Bios:
Ciarán- Ciarán O’Connell is an Accordion, Melodeon player and an Uilleann piper from Pallasgreen, County Limerick and is currently studying the BA in Irish Music in the University of Limerick. He started playing music in school and was driven to music through his grandfather. Having had many teachers in the past, from Vinny Murphy and Derrick Hickey on accordion, to Mikie Smyth and Blackie O’Connell on pipes, he has a wide range of influences and perspectives in music. Joining the Castleconnell, Ahane, HerbertstownComhaltas branch under the tutelage of Sheila Cagney, he has competed in the Fleadh Cheoilfor many years and was part of a Grúpa Cheoil that won the All-Ireland in 2018. As part of the Meitheal Summer school in 2019, he received a bursary to study in the University of Limerick for a week, of where he is now studying full time. In 2021, he received the Mícheál Ó hEidhin Award, after achieving Distinction in his Grade 8 SCT exam. Ciarán has travelled playing music in America and Egypt and in recent times is the youth officer for Limerick Comhaltas, he has joined the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and is teaching regularly with Craobh Pheig Uí Riain CCÉ, Music Generation and Na Píobairí Uilleann.
Sarah– Sarah is from Bunratty, Co.Clare Ireland. She has been playing fiddle and piano since she was 7 years of age with Tulla CCE and has been performing and competing at a young age around Ireland and at the fleadhs. Sarah and Aidan Quigeny are 2024 All Ireland Duet champions. Sarah is a graduate of the Master program in Irish Traditional Music from theUniversity of Limerick. Sarah has been teaching fiddle for the past 4 years and piano for the past 2 years in Cnoc Na Gaoithe in Tulla Co. Clare. Sarah’s East Clare style brings drive and energy to the band.
Liam– Liam Broderick is an Irish Traditional Singer and Musician from Abbeyfeale in West Limerick. Liam comes from a musical family, and plays an array of musical instruments including Fiddle, Guitar and Bouzouki. He has had success at all age levels in Fleadh Cheoil music and singing competitions from County, Provincial to All-Ireland level. Liam has obtained 2 All-Ireland titles in English language traditional singing and an All-Ireland title in lilting also. Liam’s singing went viral at the age of 9 with the song ‘The Great Big Roaming Ass’ being aired on the TG4 show Hup! Since then, he has been recorded by TG4 during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Drogheda 2019 and during Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022 in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick and interviewed by Doireann Ní Ghlacáin. Liam is currently in his final year of studies of the BA in Irish Music in the University of Limerick and plays at local festivals in Ireland regularly.
Jamie– Jamie Troy is a guitar and bodhrán player from County Laois. He started bodhrán at the age of twelve under the tutelage of All Ireland winner Dale McKay. Jamie was a member of the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra for a number of years, in which he performed various suites of music including Martin Tourish’s ‘The Impossible Dream’ . With the Laois Trad Orchestra, Jamie performed in The National Concert Hall, Collins Barracks on St. Patrick’s Day, and at Breizh Pan Celtic Festival in France. Jamie is currently studying the BA in Irish Music in the University of Limerick under the tutelage of guitarist Conal O’ Kane. Jamie was invited to teach Bodhrán to music students from the University of Michigan this Summer at the University of Limerick. Jamie has played at the Festival club for Belfast Tradfest and the Forest Fest Fleadh Stage in July 2024.