User:Tradhead199/Donal O'Connor

Dónal O'Connor is a traditional Irish musician, composer and producer from Ravensdale, Co. Louth. He now resides in Belfast and is a founding member of the group At First Light.

Biography
Son of the fiddler Gerry O’Connor (Skylark, Kinvara) and singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin(1957-1999) (Lá Lugh), Dónal O’Connor has inherited a musical legacy of at least five generations of fiddle playing. Dónal’s playing was described recently by the press as “immaculate” “electrifying” and “…borne out of naked talent and consummate professionalism…” The Irish Times “exquisite” - The Scotsman. He has toured Europe and the USA extensively from a young age as both a lead and backing instrumentalist with a number of bands including Lá Lugh. Recent collaborations have included tours with Lúnasa, Guidewires, Cathal McConnell, T.V. performances with the legendary Sligo Flute player Séamus Tansey, recording work with Brian Kennedy and Máire Brennan of Clannad and festival appearences with Liam O'Maonlai and the Steve Cooney Big Band. Despite a hectic schedule of gigs, Dónal found time to produce Gerry O’Connor’s long awaited solo album Journeyman which was released in the Autumn of 2004 to great critical acclaim. Dónal has also presented a number of music programmes on BBC Radio Ulster and was the presenter of BBC Northern Irelands excellent 10 part music series ‘An Stuif Ceart’ - described as a rare musical treat, the series incorporated an eclectic mix of talent with such luminaries as John Prine and Henry McCullough alongside the cream of Irish talent. More recently Donal recorded 'Tripswitch' with John McSherry. Described as 'Acoustic Perfection' by Living Tradition and 'Medicine for the soul' by The Irish Music Magazine, Folk Roots said '"There's probably not been such an innovative album released on the green island since Lúnasa's The Merry Sisters of Fate and Tripswitch probably shatters more boundaries." Currently a member of the much acclaimed 'At First Light', Donal collaborated with John McSherry and the legendry American slide guitarist Bob Brozman to release ‘Six Days in Down’ in October 2010 .Influential BBC broadcaster DJ Ritu, has described the album as: “One of the most impressive Cds to fly through my letter-box this year”, Ian Kearney, from ‘fRoots’ has deemed the album “a joyous fusion whilst Irish Times journalist Siobhan Long gave the album a four-star rating, heralding it as a “Strapping collection of tunes”. Having set up his own studio recently, he is much in demand as an engineer/producer and has recently recorded John McSherry's release 'Soma' and Stevie Dunne’s ‘About Time’, amongst others.

Discography
Six Days in Down - Dónal O’Connor, John McSherry & Bob Brozman - 2010 - Riverboat Records - TUG1057

About Time - Stevie Dunne - 2010 - Own Label - SDB20101

Soma - John McSherry – 2010 - Compass Records - 745382

Tripswitch - Dónal O’Connor & John McSherry – 2006 - Vertical records - VERT076

Bye a while - Padraig Rynne - 2005 - Own label - BYEAWHILE01

Journeyman - Gerry O'Connor - 2004 - Lughnasa Music - LUGCD962

On Song – Brian Kennedy – 2003 – Curb Records -CURCD 128

New Irish Hymns - Máire Brennan, Margaret Becker and Joanne Hogg – 2001 - Getty Music - KMCD2329

Brighid’s Kiss - Lá Lugh - 1996 Lughnasa Music - LUGCD961