Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School Instructors
Note: All times are listed in CENTRAL TIME ZONE. Thank you!
Ciarán O'Connell
Teaching: Button Accordion (T-W-Th) and Irish Tunes Class (T-W-Th)
Ciarán O'Connell is an Accordion, Melodeon player and an Uilleann piper from 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, Herbertstown Comhaltas branch under the tutelage of Sheila Cagney, he has competed in the Fleadh Cheoil for 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. In recent times, Ciarán is the youth officer for Limerick Comhaltas, he has joined the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and is teaching regularly with Music Generation and Na Píobairí Uilleann.