Listen to Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
as she says hello to the Celtic Cafe!

Eoin Ó Carra catches up with Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan at the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Ireland! Click here to read the interview.

Altan is:
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh - lead vocals, fiddle
Dermot Byrne - button accordion, melodeon
Ciaran Tourish - fiddle, tin whistle, backing vocals
Daithi Sproule - guitar, vocals
Ciaran Curran - bouzouki, bouzouki-guitar

Although Altan may be a name of a lake in northwest Donegal, it is better known as one of the best traditional bands of Ireland. The Boston Globe called them "one of the hottest groups in the Celtic realm these days" and the Wall Street Journal wrote that Altan was "the preeminent Irish band in the world today."

Altan began as a duo composed of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her late husband, Belfast-born flutist Frankie Kennedy (1955-1994) with whom she taught primary school in Dublin in 1981. You can learn more about Altan by clicking here.

Yet Altan has continued to play on, establishing their place in Irish traditional music for years to come. You can order Altan's CD's by clicking on the links on the left, as well as visit their official site.

Altan's Latest CD

Click here to view full discography page.

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