The Pride Ceilí Band is an integral part of the Dublin pride festival celebrations. Many members of the LGBTQ+ trad community and their allies have played and danced at the annual Dublin Pride Céilí or “Géilí” for more than two decades. For this special Tradfest concert, past and current members of the band come together to celebrate this much loved part of Pride through music and dance.
The Pride Céilí Band will be performing at the Dublin Pride Night celebrating our LGBTQ+ trad and folk artists, Thursday 26th at 8.30pm in the Button Factory. This special event is a collaboration between TradFest Temple Bar, Dublin Pride and the Trad Is Amach queer trad collective. Other acts for the night include Seolta, Kit Knight and Amach is Amach.
Members of the band will include…
Niall Coakley (Fiddle)
Niall Coakley is a fiddle player originally from Dunmanway in West Cork. He learnt his music from piano accordion player Martin Power and fiddle player Johnny McCarthy. Since he moved to Dublin 25 years ago, he has been influenced by the vibrant Dublin Irish music scene while retaining his munster musical roots. A lecturer by profession, he is an experienced performer and has played with the Pride Ceilí Band for more than 20 years.
Bryan Duggan (Flute)
Bryan Duggan is a flute player and computer scientist from Dublin. He played for over 20 years in the Pride Ceilí Band and he is the creator of Tunepal, a popular music app that is used by thousands of trad musicians in sessions and classes. A lifelong musician, from a musical family, Bryan regularly plays sessions in Dublin and elsewhere, and he has taught workshops on flute playing in both Ireland and France.
John Carroll (Button Accordion)
A native of South Limerick, John Carroll has been playing the button accordion from an early age. His first exposure to the tradition was in the heart of Sliabh Luachra, where his mother’s family played fiddles and whistles in that style. He later developed his technique under the tutelage of Paddy Clancy, the noted accordion maker and tuner. Influenced by Con Herbert, John joined the Allow Céili Band in 2003. The band later achieved acclaim as the first céíli band from Co. Cork to capture the All Ireland Senior Band title, in 2007. A CD later followed from the band entitled ‘Rince Go Maidin’. John is well known as a performer and adjudicator within traditional music circles throughout Ireland and is recognised for his confident and accurate playing.
Domhnall Breatnach (Fiddle)
Domhnall Breatnach originally hails from Tramore in County Waterford, and is currently based in Dublin. Domhnall plays the fiddle, accordion and piano. He studied music in University College Cork, where he was the recipient of one of the annual Donal “Doc” Gleeson Instrumental Tuition Awards. Over the years, Domhnall has performed with various groups, and has toured in numerous countries including the UK, Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Ukraine.
Mick McCabe (Flute, Tin Whistle)
Mick is a Dublin based flute player from the north west of England. He learned his music from Billy Greenall in the Ashton and Earlestown branches of CCÉ. Mick has performed at Milwaukee Irish Fest and Festival Interceltique de Lorient. Mick holds an MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance from UL. Mick’s day job is now in design but he is a regular musician at sessions and festivals. Mick has played at the annual Dublin Pride céilí from its early days to the present. Mick co-wrote and illustrated ‘Jigs to Jacobites’, a book about traditional set dances with Dr Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain.
