Andy Cooney
Andy Cooney, with his outstanding voice and dynamic stage presence has always been a favorite among American and Irish audiences everywhere. His talent and versatility provide the ability to deliver a song directly to the hearts of his audience. Andy is surely one of the greatest singing sensations on the stage today. Christened “Irish America’s Favorite Son” by The New York Times, is a title he truly deserves. From his Sell Out performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall to performing in big and small cities across America, Andy Cooney is a house hold name in every Irish American home. Some of Andy’s latest successes have included his 9th sell out appearance at Carnegie Hall last December with The New York Tenors and The Irish Tenors. Andy will be at Carnegie Hall again on December 9, 2019 with the New York Tenors and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. This will be Andy Cooney’s 22th Annual Cruise of Irish Stars. “It all began in 1998. We’ve gone from a few hundred cruisers to as many as 1700! Let’s keep this great Irish Party at sea going for many years to come!”
Ronan Tynan
Ronan Tynan, “Put courage in your dreams, Ronan, and leave the rest to the Man Above, And then you will carve your footprints in the sand.” These words have shaped the remarkable life of the Irish tenor Ronan Tynan – a proud and loving lesson of his mother’s – from his childhood milking cows on a farm in County Kilkenny, Ireland, to an ever-evolving career as a singer, bringing him worldwide fame and admiration that could have existed only in the farthest reaches of those dreams. International audiences met Tynan as a member of The Irish Tenors. Now his singular voice and irresistible appeal have led him to strike out on his own, a decision that seems to have resulted in something far more meaningful than a mere solo career. For more information on Ronan, visit his website.
Tom Comerford
Tom Comerford has been playing music since 1988, and has been fortunate enough to do it as a profession, since 1990. After a vast amount of mileage, countless tours, and three well received CDs with The Whole Shabang, Tom decided that it was time to concentrate on a career closer to home. Tom is still one of the most sought after entertainers in the South East of Ireland, where he works in a solo capacity. Possessing a fine ability to read an audience, Tom’s repertoire is vast and varied, and continually growing. Anyone who has been to a show can recognize that he is equally happy whether singing the old classics or the newer contemporary Irish songs that are destined to become classics. Recording is still a top priority with Tom, having just released “Celtic Connections”; other CDs include “A Tour Of Ireland”, “Face the Music”, “Organized Rhyme”, “Celtic Christmas”, and “Celtic Classics”. The emphasis is on fun, sing-a-long, audience involvement…you don’t need to know a whole bunch of Irish songs to enjoy one of the gigs…Tom Comerford knows more than enough Irish songs for everyone to have a good time. For more information on Tom, visit his website.
The Druids
The Druids are a 4 piece Irish Ballad group based in Co. Kildare. Our music creates a journey back through Ireland’s Historical past and re-lives the real account through song and stories.
The Druids formed in 2009 and have fastly built up a massive audience worldwide, The Show has now been toured in America, England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium and all across the 32 counties of Ireland and continues to be as popular as ever.
The Band refound their passion in 2012 after a short break and with the addition of Mick Dunne found a new lease of life. The Druids are now considered a house hold name on the music touring circuit.
The Druids have recently recorded their 3rd studio album which features 8 original songs, covering a range of issues from Emmigration to Protest songs, also a song to remember the great Nelson Mandela to The Easter Rising of 1916. We also have written a song in support of Celtic Fans “The Green Brigade” called Why cant i be a Rebel.
The Screaming Orphans
Screaming Orphans are four sisters with the good fortune to have been raised in the magic of Bundoran in County Donegal, Ireland.
There is a great tradition of music to be found in Irish homes especially in the Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking areas which have produced the likes of Clannad, Enya and Mairead, Micheal and Triona Ni Dhomhnaill. Our home was no exception. From we were young, we’ve been singing and playing traditional Irish music but when we hit our teenage years we knew it was time to start our own pop rock band.
Devri
Devri’s 4 core members are: Declan Houton on vocals, guitar and mandolin, Larry Flint on vocals, bass and guitar, Chuck Parrish on guitar and Steve O’Callaghan on drums and percussion. The band attributes their continued success to their fanatic audience, and it’s a well-diversified crowd for sure.
Tommy Mulvihill
Eimear Reynolds
Eimear Reynolds is from the beautiful picturesque village of Rooskey in Co. Roscommon.
Eimear was brought up in an extended family of musicians and singers so it was no surprise when she began to have a keen interest herself. Having trained classically for more than twelve years and completing a bachelor of music degree in the Dublin Institute of Technology Conservatory of Music and Drama, Eimear is now crossing over and exploring more contempory genres.
“I want to empathise with the world around me through music. I want people to listen to my music and connect with my storytelling”
Musical influences for Eimear include Francis Black, Maura O’Connell, Alison Krauss, Cara Dillon, Sarah McLachlan…
Eimear is currently in the studio recording her first EP which will be released later this year.
Mick Thomas
Former European Kick-boxing champion, Mick Thomas, moved to New York from County Wexford, Ireland and after a couple years of living in the US he started to pursue his life-long dream of stand-up comedy. Mick Thomas quickly became a favorite at comedy clubs all over Long Island, New York City, and the tri-state area. In addition to stand-up, Mick has written sitcoms and sketches, has his own podcast, “The Mick Thomas Show”, and can be seen in “Excuse Me for Living” with Jerry Stiller and Christopher Lloyd. Mick has performed with comedy greats Colin Quinn, Louis Anderson, Jim Breuer, Dom Irrera, Greg Giraldo, Gary Gulman, and WWE legend Mick Foley. Mick’s hour special, “Live at McGuire’s”, recorded in 2013, is hilarious and smart.
Paul Duffy
Paul Duffy, from Dublin Ireland as a young lad grew up in show business where his parents were the talents behind Duffy’s International Circus that toured though out Ireland. Before long, Paul taught himself to play the saxophone and promptly played it in the Circus on a tightrope. He went on to learn bagpipes, bass, drums, flute, guitar, keyboards, tin whistle, and the trumpet. Before he knew it, he was playing in bands, at recording studios and bars around Dublin until he started his own band at age 26. As Paul career flourished and would go on to performing with legends like Ben E. King, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Brian Johnson, Suzi Quatro and The Commitments.
The Willie Lynch Band
The Willie Lynch Band have been singing traditional Irish music in pubs, VFW halls, festivals, church basements, political fund-raisers, cruises, weddings and wakes famously in New Jersey. Born the last of eight children in the Dublin suburb of Cabra West, Lynch was raised by his mother, Lily MacDonald, who sang “Pal of My Cradle Days” around the house, a tribute to a mother’s sacrifices. Willie now sings it in her memory, and of the 60 or more songs in his repertoire it’s the one that makes him sentimental. “He plays traditional Irish songs with a Vegas kind of flair…he’s one of the backbones of Irish culture.” Guitarist Jim Cox and accordionist Paddy Yorke, have been with him 27 years. All the members of the Lynch band can play several instruments, though they don’t bother much with a fiddle or banjo, preferring the sound of an accordion-mandolin-penny whistle combo. For more information on The Willie Lynch Band, visit their website.
Stephen’s Green
Stephen’s Green have since firmly established themselves on the Irish music scene in the United States, performing in Irish venues across the country where they are acclaimed as one of the hottest Irish duos on the circuit. Martin Doyle and Andy O’Driscoll, both natives of Dublin, by chance combined their outstanding musical talents several years ago. Andy is a gifted balladeer, equally at ease with traditional and contemporary favorites. Martin, an exceptionally capable musician, performed for several years on the music scene in and around Dublin before coming to America a few years ago. He holds Irish and International awards for his performing ability as master of the accordion, and is regarded as an exceptional keyboard artist. Together, Stephen’s Green provide an outstanding array of haunting ballads, rollicking jigs and reels and hand-clapping sing-a-long favorites, as well as first-rate original compositions. Their friendly, engaging ways and outstanding stage presence have won them a legion of fans wherever they perform. For more information on Stephen’s Green, visit their website.
Bill Lewis
Bill Lewis is an acclaimed pianist/accompanist, arranger and performer and has enjoyed a professional career for forty years. He is the Associate Music Director for the Natchez Opera Festival and Head Vocal Coach for the Central City Opera House Festival. Since 2001, Bill has been appearing with Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan in concert. In addition to his concert appearances, Bill also serves as official pianist for several important vocal competitions. As a teacher, Bill has served on the faculties of both the Boston and New England Conservatories and at Rutgers University. He has taught Master Classes across the United States and has a private studio in New York City.
The Catskills Ceili Band
The Catskills Ceili Band features Traditional Irish Music Hall of Fame members Jimmy Kelly, Sr. who has drummed with the Tulla Ceili Band, along with All-Ireland Accordion Champion John Nolan, and well-known New York Fiddler Bernadette Fee who is a veteran performer and is very active in the traditional music circles.
The Andy Cooney Band
Colm Graham
Colm Graham plays guitar in the Andy Cooney Band and sings lead and background vocals, he hails from the County Tipperary. Colm released “Celtic Landscapes”, his first all instrumental album for acoustic guitar, all music written and arranged by Colm, and recently released his first solo album, “Songs of Home” that includes pub sing-a-longs and a couple of songs written by Colm and his brother, Brendan Graham. For more information on Colm, visit his website.
Jimmy Kelly
Jimmy Kelly plays drums and sings lead and background vocals and occasionally guitar in the Andy Cooney Band. Jimmy lives in Albany, NY and is from an extensive line of Irish musicians. Jimmy recently was in Riverdance on Broadway and took third in the All Ireland for ceili drumming.
Mitch Reilly
Mitch Reilly has been a professional musician for 36 years. Mitch was born into an Irish-American family hailing from Co. Cavan, Ireland. He has performed with many international entertainers including Engelbert Humperdinck, Tiffany and Kelley Hunt as well as television performances on MTV, VH1, BBC, Arsenio Hall, Pat Sajak, The Oak Ridge Boys and Disney Channel. Mitch is a sought after studio musician in Los Angeles and Nashville and has recorded three solo records as well as performed on recordings with Chet McCracken (Doobie Brothers) and The Diane Marino Quartet. He has also headed up his own jazz group and Irish group to perform on radio shows and at festivals in Tennessee and Alabama.
John Nolan
John Nolan was born & raised in the Bronx section of New York. His first introduction to Irish music was listening to his father playing a Baldoni D/C# box. His first formal training came from John Glynn and later Martin Mulvihill, but he later learned and continues to learn from all musicians through sessions, recordings and close personal friendships. John started his musical career in the Catskills in the mid 1970’s with the great fiddler Pat Keogh. In August of 1982, he became the first American to win the Senior All-Ireland Champion on both the two-row and three-row button accordions. John has been featured on over a dozen recordings, including two of his on production – “A Taste for the Traditional” and “A Rake of Reels”. Then in 2009, he was inducted into the Comhaltas Hall of Fame. Besides keeping a busy performance schedule, John currently teaches, sells accordions and has developed a tremendous business – “Buttons & Bellows” –tuning and repairing accordions from his home in Rockland Co. where he lives with his wife Mary, daughter Maura & son Brendan.
PJ Cardinal
Musical Director
