Tutors
June McCormack
Director of Music
June comes from Ballintogher, Co. Sligo and joined the Fred Finn Branch as a junior musician. June has been teaching at Fred Finn CCE for 25 years and has been involved with our grupa cheoil and ceili bands for 20 years. In 1998, June was presented with the Young Traditional Musician of the Year award by TG4 . A primary school teacher by profession, June has published two flute tutorial books in recent years, Fliúit (2006) and Fliúit 2 (2009). She has recorded two CDs with Michael Rooney; 'Draíocht' (2004) and 'Land's End' (2006). www.draiochtmusic.com
Michael Hurley
Teaches flute & whistle & adult class
Michael Hurley was born and raised in Leeds England, to Mayo and Galway parents. His father was a flute player, and taught Michael and his three brothers to a high level. Leeds CCE had a strong branch at the time, and were no strangers to Fleadhs in Ireland in the 70s and 80s. They have lived in Ballymote for the last 32 years and Michael now teaches all over County Sligo and has produced many All-Ireland prizewinners. He is the flute player with the Swallow’s Tail Ceili Band, one of Ireland’s top Ceili Bands, and has toured in USA, UK and in many other countries.
Sean Carroll
Teaches button accordion
Sean started playing tin whistle before moving on to accordion which he learned from his Father, Michael Carroll from Dromahair, Co. Leitrim. Sean also plays flute. He has played at many festivals in the USA, Italy & France in recent years. He’s also a member of of the well known Dartry Céilí Band – All-Ireland winners in 2009 at the Fleadh Cheoil in Tullamore – The Dartry Ceili Band have released 2 CDs ‘The Killavil Post ‘ & ‘Making Tracks’. – See www.dartryceiliband.com
Caoimhe Kearins
Teaches fiddle
Caoimhe Kearins hails from just outside Ballymote, the heart of ‘Coleman Country’ in County Sligo, Ireland. As a young musician, Caoimhe experienced success at county, provincial and All-Ireland level at fleadhanna. The continuation of this success includes her most recent achievements namely; Senior All- Ireland Fiddle Champion, Fiddler of Dooney, All-Ireland Female Singing Champion, two time All-Ireland Trio Champion, and lilting Champion. Caoimhe has represented Comhaltas as a performer, tutor and adjudicator overseas on tours of Britain, Luxembourg, America, Canada and most recently Brazil.
Niamh McGloin
Teaches Harp
At the age of 8, Niamh started learning the accordion at the Fred Finn branch of Comhaltas. At the age of 11, she then started learning harp under the guidance of Grainne Hambly. Niamh has won All Ireland titles in the u12, u15, u18 and senior harp along with winning titles at the Granard, Keadue, and Nobber harp festivals. Niamh has received the Michael O hEidhin medal for receiving 4 distinctions in her final SCT exam. Niamh has also heen accredited with the Higher Performance Certificate and and TTCT teaching diploma by Comhaltas.
Tom Gavin
Teaches Tin whistle & Flute
Tom Gavin from Sligo town is a flute and whistle player, a singer and lilter. He holds All Ireland titles at senior and all under-age levels in flute, whistle, singing and lilting. He is a member of the National Folk Orchestra and has participated in winning groups at Siansa Gael Linn, Grupaí Cheoil and Céilí Bands and performed at many prestigious events at national and local level. He was a member of the 2019 Comhaltas group who toured Ireland and the UK.
Dulra Hanley
Teaches Fiddle
Dúlra is a graduate of Maynooth University, with a B.A. in Music and Nua-Ghaeilge, majoring in traditional performance. She plays both classical and traditional violin, and has received several high achiever awards for classical exams. She has been a member of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland is a member, and is currently a member of The Macalla Orchestra. She has been a member of numerous medal-winning grúpaí ceoil and céilí bands. She has a keen grá for the Irish language and strives to promote it whenever possible.
Shauna Cullen
Teaches Flute & Tin whistle
Shauna Cullen hails from Ballintogher, Co. Sligo and began tin-whistle classes in St.Teresa’s National School at the age of seven under the tutelage of Seamus McCormack, who was principal there at the time. Shauna later progressed to Michael Hurley who taught her the flute and whistle for years after. Over the years Shauna has won many solo and group medals at various Fleadh Cheoil an hÉireann.
Seamus McCormack
Teaches Tin whistle
Seamus McCormack, a founding member of the Fred Finn Branch, has been teaching music at the Fred Finn class for 25 years. Formerly a primary school teacher, Seamus was president of Comhaltas for three years up to 2012 and is a former Chairperson of the Fred Finn Branch (1989-2009). For the 30thanniversary celebration of the Branch in 2017, Seamus wrote a book ‘Fred Finn Branch 1987-2017’.
Celine Shannon
Teaches Concertina
Celine hails from Ballinameen co. Roscommon, Celine began the concertina at the young age of seven under the influence of her sister breda Shannon. She is a competent concertina and flute player as well as singer and lilter. Celine has competed at numerous fleadhanna and has achieved numerous all Ireland titles. Celine is currently a student in Maynooth University studying Irish and music. She has recorded with the 2013 all Ireland winning ceili band “The Moylurg” on their album “The Rest is History”.