Sinéad McKenna (fiddlde)
Sinéad McKenna is an Irish musician from Augher, County Tyrone. As a multi-instrumentalist and singer, she is deeply rooted in traditional Irish music, drawing inspiration from the styles of her great-uncles Pete and Pat McKenna, as well as fiddle masters Tommy Peoples and Ed Reavy.
Her talent has been recognized through many performances in Ireland and internationally, including in Europe, the United States, and Dubai. Sinéad has won several awards at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and the prestigious Ed Reavy International Fiddle Competition in 2019. She has also appeared on television platforms such as RTÉ, TG4, and the BBC in the documentary The Northern Fiddler.
After moving to Belfast for her studies, Sinéad became an active part of the local music community, collaborating with renowned artists and participating in events such as Belfast Tradfest and the Pádraig O’Keefe Festival. In 2022, she was awarded the first Gradam Ceoil scholarship by Belfast City Council, allowing her to dedicate herself to her debut album, Faoi Lán Ceoil, set for release in March 2024. This album showcases her unique fiddle talent and her sensitive interpretation of traditional songs in both English, and Irish Gaelic.
Sophie Bardou (fiddle)
Jillian O'Malley (flute)
Micky Fearon (singing)
Samuel Gautier (concertina/accordion)
Élien Badaire (multi-instrument)
Ronan Healy (set-dancing)
Ronan Healy is a native of Kildare in Ireland but he lives in Belgium where he works as a teacher of English. He has been dancing Irish set dancing since his youth and has been teaching it for many years in his adopted country of Belgium, where he also organises traditional Irish music and dance events. He can teach set dancing in both English and French.
Cillian McCabe (guitar)
Cillian McCabe is a guitar, banjo and bouzouki player from County Monaghan in Ireland. He has played extensively throughout Europe and North America including a residency in Disney World in Florida. He hails from a very musical family, one grandparent being the founding organiser of the famous Féile Oriel in Monaghan and another the first cousin of renowned piper and collector Séamus Ennis. Cillian has also been teaching Irish traditional music for many years and will teach traditional accompaniment on the guitar and bouzouki this year in Namur. He usually plays in “drop D”, but he knows common tunings and, of course, welcomes trainees using a different tuning.
Lucas Lejeune (Junior workshop)
Lucas is a musician from Namur with a deep passion for Irish music. He has specialized in several instruments (Violin, Flute, Tin Whistle, Piano). His violin playing style has been strongly influenced by Bríd Harper, Kate Ní Shé, Sophie Bardou, and… Sinéad McKenna. He teaches an oral transmission instrumental ensemble class at the Huy Conservatory and also teaches the flute at the Court Saint-Etienne Academy and the Huy Conservatory.