Teachers's Bios
Zoë Conway
Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre
“Simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” (BBC)
"Folk Instrumentalist of the Year" RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards 2020 (Zoë)
"Featured Composer" ITMA Irish Traditional Music Archive 2021 (Zoë)
"Associate Artist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra" 2023 onwards (Zoë)
With an exciting blend of eclectic fiddle and guitar music, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre bring to the stage sympathetic arrangements of traditional Irish music, compositions and songs, old and new. The husband and wife folk duo possess a rare facility to draw pieces into their repertoire from other genres such as classical, jazz and world music and express this material in way which not only displays the sheer range and knowledge of both instrumentalists but also exhibits the wonderful versatility of their instruments.
They have released three outstanding recordings to date - Live in Concert, a superb collection of live European performances which showcases their mesmerising musical interaction on-stage, and also reveals some of their more virtuosic repertoire outside of the Irish traditional genre. Relaxed and atmospheric, the respect and understanding that they have of traditional Irish music and song also shines through.
Their debut duo album, entitled Go Mairir I Bhfad (Long Life To You), received a glorious 5 stars from national paper, The Irish Times. For this unique album, they commissioned twelve leading Irish composers to each compose a piece specifically for Zoë and John, for fiddle and guitar, with the aim of collectively presenting a snapshot of traditional Irish music in 2012. The renowned composers who took part in the project were Liz Carroll, Steve Cooney, Frankie Gavin, Andy Irvine, Charlie Lennon, Donal Lunny, Máirtín O’Connor, Peadar Ó Riada, Mícheál Ó Súilleabhán, Tommy Peoples, Niall Vallely and Bill Whelan.
Their latest release, From A Forest To A Fiddle, features a unique orchestral soundtrack created for the film of the same name.
From a Forest to a Fiddle has gotten huge exposure in Ireland with a sold out first performance of orchestra and film in the National Concert Hall with Zoë, John and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. This art-film is a celebration of Irish heritage and captures master craftsman Jim McKillop making a fiddle in his rural workshop in Ireland. Film maker Patrick Conway masterfully documented each stage and made an artistic, meditative timelapse which Zoë created the filmic score around.
The release of these albums has brought international attention to the duo, and so they are increasingly in demand in Ireland and abroad for performances, talks and workshops.
Zoë, no stranger to the stage, has performed with an impressive list of international artists including Riverdance, Damien Rice, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Rodrigo y Gabriella to mention but a few. In contrast to this, she has been an important figure within classical music circles in Ireland and abroad, as her crossover discipline has allowed her the pleasure of appearing as soloist with acclaimed orchestras such as the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and German WDR Symphony Orchestra; pieces recited include her own compositions and works composed for her by world renowned composers, Bill Whelan, Patrick Doyle and others.
John grew up in the Cooley Mountains of north County Louth where he took up guitar at 8 years of age. He began his career as electric guitarist with the successful indie band, The Revs with whom he performed on many famous stages and festivals including Oxygen, and Slane in Ireland, Reading and Leeds in the UK, and toured extensively in USA, Australia and Europe. He has worked alongside many world-renowned producers, and is now also producing and recording in many genres. John studied classical guitar and piano for many years, and from early childhood was immersed in the language, songs and traditional dance music of south west Donegal - his father's homeplace.
The duo has recorded on major film soundtracks including Finding You (Red Sky Studio 2021), Riverdance The Animated Adventure (Universal 2021), and Zoë has recorded on award winning Float Like A Butterfly (Samson Films 2018) and Artemis Fowl (Disney 2020) as soloist with a hand-picked symphony orchestra in George Martin's world-renowned AIR studios in London.
Zoë and John have collaborated over the past five years with award winning Scots Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis and bouzouki player of international renown, Éamon Doorley, both based in Inverness in Scotland. Releasing a groundbreaking recording of newly crafted songs and tunes, 'Allt' is the culmination of a composition project inspired by old and new Gaelic poetry from Scotland and Ireland. Emotive and powerful, their album was awarded five stars from Songlines UK, listed as "one of the albums of the year" from The Irish Times, and described as "a modern classic" by Folk Radio UK. The "awesome foursome" released a follow up album, Allt ll - Cuimhne, in 2024 and will perform new songs and music with The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, The Ulster Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in 2025 & 2026.
Together, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre have been described as “simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” (BBC), and audiences in Ireland and beyond keep coming back for more. They have performed for rock stars, millionaires and dignitaries around the world, including Irish Presidents Mary Mc Aleese and Michael D. Higgins. They were awarded Best Live Show from popular YouTube channel, Balcony TV, and have received in excess of a combined half a million views online.
"An ceol is binne agus is cruinne dá gcuala mé riamh."
For more see www.zoeandjohn.com
Louise Mulcahy
Louise Mulcahy began playing the tin whistle at age five and a few years later moved on to flute, Matt Molloy and Eamonn Cotter becoming formative influences on her style.
At thirteen she took up uilleann pipes, taught by Dave Hegarty in Tralee and in monthly master-classes at NPU in Dublin. One of the few female performers on what is a male-dominated instrument, she featured on the NPU compilation A New Dawn in 1999, and has taught at both the Chris Langan Piping Tionól in Toronto and the East Coast Piping Tionól in the Catskills, USA. A primary-level teacher in Co. Meath, she is the only person in the fleadh’s history to have won four senior All-Ireland titles in the one day.
Aoife McCabe
Aoife is a traditional Irish sean-nós dancer, Set dancer, and musician based in
Monaghan, Ireland. She has a BA in Irish Dance Performance from the Irish World
Academy, University of Limerick. Aoife has a particular interest in the rhythmical
relationships between music and dance. She is also a musician and plays the button
accordion and harp.
Aoife has received many All Ireland titles and has also been awarded ‘Gradam na
hEigse’.
To date, Aoife has performed all over Ireland and has also travelled abroad on
numerous occasions to perform and teach music and dance.
Sarah Fennell
Sarah is a dance artist and teacher based in Limerick. Her exploration lies within the parameters of
Traditional Irish step dance through the lens of contemporary dance. Sarah is primarily interested in the
processes involved when making dance.
She has worked as a professional dance artist with various Irish based dance companies and
choreographers over the past ten years. These artists include, Kristyn Fontanella, Breandán de Gallaí
(ériu dance company), Liz Roche Company (as an intern), Phillipa Donellan and Mary Nunan.
She had also made a number of solo and collaborative works as an independent artist.
Having graduated from an MA in Traditional Dance and Contemporary Dance at The University of
Limerick, she is delighted to be a tutor of Creative Practice on the BA in Traditional Dance at The Irish
World Academy in UL.
Maranna McCloskey
Maranna McCloskey is an Irish folk singer/songwriter, from The Benedy, outside Dungiven, Co.Derry.
Coming from a highly musical family; music, song and dance were a large part of Maranna’s childhood and adolescence. Maranna displayed real talent for singing as a child and regularly participated in fleadhs and seisiúns. When she was still a student, she joined local traditional band, Óige,with whom she performed at numerous music festivals throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe.
In 2008, Maranna released her first solo album, ‘At Last’, comprising old traditional songs and a number of her own compositions. Her voice has been described as ‘Incredibly warm and beautiful’ (Irish Music Magazine) and her solo album has won her major Awards including Vocal Album of the Year for both LiveIreland.com in Dublin, and Chicago’s Irish-American News.
These days, Maranna enjoys singing and playing whistle at local seisiúns around Derry and Donegal. She loves listening to the different styles of traditional singers in the North West and further afield. Maranna says: ‘It’s a wonderful gift to be able to sing, and it is an honour to be invited to this year’s Féile Oslo. I am so excited to perform and teach some of my favourite traditional songs.’
John Mc Intyre
Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre
“Simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” (BBC)
"Folk Instrumentalist of the Year" RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards 2020 (Zoë)
"Featured Composer" ITMA Irish Traditional Music Archive 2021 (Zoë)
"Associate Artist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra" 2023 onwards (Zoë)
With an exciting blend of eclectic fiddle and guitar music, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre bring to the stage sympathetic arrangements of traditional Irish music, compositions and songs, old and new. The husband and wife folk duo possess a rare facility to draw pieces into their repertoire from other genres such as classical, jazz and world music and express this material in way which not only displays the sheer range and knowledge of both instrumentalists but also exhibits the wonderful versatility of their instruments.
They have released three outstanding recordings to date - Live in Concert, a superb collection of live European performances which showcases their mesmerising musical interaction on-stage, and also reveals some of their more virtuosic repertoire outside of the Irish traditional genre. Relaxed and atmospheric, the respect and understanding that they have of traditional Irish music and song also shines through.
Their debut duo album, entitled Go Mairir I Bhfad (Long Life To You), received a glorious 5 stars from national paper, The Irish Times. For this unique album, they commissioned twelve leading Irish composers to each compose a piece specifically for Zoë and John, for fiddle and guitar, with the aim of collectively presenting a snapshot of traditional Irish music in 2012. The renowned composers who took part in the project were Liz Carroll, Steve Cooney, Frankie Gavin, Andy Irvine, Charlie Lennon, Donal Lunny, Máirtín O’Connor, Peadar Ó Riada, Mícheál Ó Súilleabhán, Tommy Peoples, Niall Vallely and Bill Whelan.
Their latest release, From A Forest To A Fiddle, features a unique orchestral soundtrack created for the film of the same name.
From a Forest to a Fiddle has gotten huge exposure in Ireland with a sold out first performance of orchestra and film in the National Concert Hall with Zoë, John and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. This art-film is a celebration of Irish heritage and captures master craftsman Jim McKillop making a fiddle in his rural workshop in Ireland. Film maker Patrick Conway masterfully documented each stage and made an artistic, meditative timelapse which Zoë created the filmic score around.
The release of these albums has brought international attention to the duo, and so they are increasingly in demand in Ireland and abroad for performances, talks and workshops.
Zoë, no stranger to the stage, has performed with an impressive list of international artists including Riverdance, Damien Rice, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Rodrigo y Gabriella to mention but a few. In contrast to this, she has been an important figure within classical music circles in Ireland and abroad, as her crossover discipline has allowed her the pleasure of appearing as soloist with acclaimed orchestras such as the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and German WDR Symphony Orchestra; pieces recited include her own compositions and works composed for her by world renowned composers, Bill Whelan, Patrick Doyle and others.
John grew up in the Cooley Mountains of north County Louth where he took up guitar at 8 years of age. He began his career as electric guitarist with the successful indie band, The Revs with whom he performed on many famous stages and festivals including Oxygen, and Slane in Ireland, Reading and Leeds in the UK, and toured extensively in USA, Australia and Europe. He has worked alongside many world-renowned producers, and is now also producing and recording in many genres. John studied classical guitar and piano for many years, and from early childhood was immersed in the language, songs and traditional dance music of south west Donegal - his father's homeplace.
The duo has recorded on major film soundtracks including Finding You (Red Sky Studio 2021), Riverdance The Animated Adventure (Universal 2021), and Zoë has recorded on award winning Float Like A Butterfly (Samson Films 2018) and Artemis Fowl (Disney 2020) as soloist with a hand-picked symphony orchestra in George Martin's world-renowned AIR studios in London.
Zoë and John have collaborated over the past five years with award winning Scots Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis and bouzouki player of international renown, Éamon Doorley, both based in Inverness in Scotland. Releasing a groundbreaking recording of newly crafted songs and tunes, 'Allt' is the culmination of a composition project inspired by old and new Gaelic poetry from Scotland and Ireland. Emotive and powerful, their album was awarded five stars from Songlines UK, listed as "one of the albums of the year" from The Irish Times, and described as "a modern classic" by Folk Radio UK. The "awesome foursome" released a follow up album, Allt ll - Cuimhne, in 2024 and will perform new songs and music with The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, The Ulster Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in 2025 & 2026.
Together, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre have been described as “simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” (BBC), and audiences in Ireland and beyond keep coming back for more. They have performed for rock stars, millionaires and dignitaries around the world, including Irish Presidents Mary Mc Aleese and Michael D. Higgins. They were awarded Best Live Show from popular YouTube channel, Balcony TV, and have received in excess of a combined half a million views online.
"An ceol is binne agus is cruinne dá gcuala mé riamh."
For more see www.zoeandjohn.com
Alana Flynn
Alana Flynn is a bodhrán player from Mullaghbawn, County Armagh. Over the years, she’s travelled across Europe, playing at festivals with different bands and teaching workshops. She’s also had the chance to combine her love of bodhrán and Irish dancing by taking part in a variety of shows. Outside of music, Alana works as a primary school teacher and has a real passion for teaching. She’s really looking forward to sharing her skills and meeting everyone at Féile Oslo 2025!
Åse Kristine Waglen
Åse Kristine Waglen teaches Irish dance at the dance school Sound-Irish dance Factory in Oslo and is a member of the Sound- Irish Dance Company.
She started Irish dancing at 16 and has since then been traveling to Ireland and Europe to compete and work with renowned Irish dance masters and teachers, such as Breandán de Gallaí and Ronan McCormack. Åse started teaching only a short time after taking up Irish dance. First her peers through various school activities and projects before starting as a teacher at the Sound Irish dance Factory in 2006. In addition to the dance school, she’s been teaching at numerous social events, and also organized dance events like Feiseanna.
Her main motivation is always to give people the opportunity to enjoy Irish music through dancing and community building.
Brendan Monaghan
Brendan is from Banbridge in Northern Ireland and has worked as a professional folk musician since 1991. He is a multi-instrumentalist specialised in uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes) and tin whistles.
Back in Ireland, he was teaching in primary and secondary level schools as well as in several Comhaltas branches, primarily Warrenpoint and Annaclone Comhaltas, both individuals and groups. He has several years of experience teaching music to children and adults alike.
Brendan has toured extensively in the USA, Canada, and most of Europe, notably with the famous show Celtic Thunder. Since 1992, he has performed regularly with Phil Coulter in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Radio City NY, the Lincoln Centre NY, and at the White house for President Clinton in 1998. He has also performed with artists like Justin Hayward, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Steve Harley and Nanci Griffith.
Since 2020, Brendan has established himself in Oslo, where he is currently performing and teaching Irish music. He is a founding member on the band Muintir and the duo Dúchas.
Cecilie Stensrud
Cecilie started out with modern Irish dance in 2008 and has since then developed her passion for Irish music and more traditional dance styles. She is currently the only one in Norway to teach Irish ‘sean nós’ or ‘old style’ dance. She is a member of “Sound Irish Dance Company” as well as a teacher at the dance school “Sound Irish Dance Factory”.
Together with the dance company, she has had the possibility to work with world renowned dancers and choreographers like Ronan McCormack, Breandán de Gallaí, Zara Curtis and Dearbhle Lennon, as well as performing with several bands and artist, among which is a guest performance with The Chieftains at their Oslo concert in 2018.
Cecilie has a Ph.D. in Norwegian opera history from NTNU and has studied theatre and song at the Conservatory of Dijon in France. When not performing, she is working as a producer for the contemporary music ensembles Cikada and Oslo Sinfonietta.