Trad with a twist comes to Killaloe

A feast of Irish traditional music with eclectic overtones will be provided by a local group in the Quay Arts Centre, Ballina, Killaloe on Saturday, October 8 at 8pm.
Foley’s Woodshed and Michael “Piper” Cooney will entertain the audience on the shores of Lough Derg with their somewhat unique twist on trad thanks to the contribution of Lena Ullman on the old time banjo.
The four-piece band has teamed up with renowned uileann piper Michael Cooney, who is originally from Gortnahoe, Tipperary and is now based in the United States.
Cooney, an All-Ireland champion piper has just released a new solo CD, Just Piping. The band has played with Mr Cooney for years and is taking advantage of his appearance at a pipers’ sessiun Tinól in Templemore, Tipperary to avail of this rare opportunity to play together.
Foley’s Woodshed comprises Paul Smyth, Tony Trundle, Lena Ullman and Ged Foley.
Born and raised in Kilmovee, Mayo, Paul Smyth was involved in several Ceoltir’ Moibh’ groups in his younger days.
This talented flute player won numerous All-Ireland medals including three at the Fleadh Cheoil in Buncrana in 1974. Musical influences at that time included Peter Horan, Dermot Grogan and his uncle Mick Smyth, father of fiddler Sean.
More recently, Paul has lived in Ballina, Killaloe and has played and toured with Michael ‘Piper’ Cooney. He has a solo recording, Up and Away, from 2003 and is a regular teacher and performer at summer schools and festivals around Ireland and abroad.
Tony Trundle is a musician who is originally from Newry, County Down. Having lived in Manchester for 20 years, he has recently moved to Kinvara, Galway. He is a songwriter and fiddle player working in different genres.
His unique singing style has several influences, from Tom Waits and Van Morrison to Baba Maal and Len Graham. His understated fiddle playing covers many genres from Irish traditional and country to rock and roll.
A member of LongNote and The Lonesome and Penniless Cowboys he has also written music for theatre and is in demand as a session player and studio engineer.
Lena Ullman was introduced to the five-string banjo and American old-time music as a teenager in Sweden. Living in Ireland since the late-70s, she played clawhammer style with The Higglers, an old-time stringband that performed throughout Ireland and Europe.
Later she applied the clawhammer banjo style to traditional Irish music. She was a member of Moonshine, with Frank Hall and Johnny Moynihan.
Lena has also recorded with Buffalo in the Castle, an ensemble with Mairtín O’Connor, Desi Wilkinson, and Frank Hall, exploring musical connections between traditional Irish and American Old-time music. Now living in Cloonagrow, Feakle, she plays the old time banjo.
Ged Foley is well known in Celtic circles as one of Irish music’s most gifted guitarists.
He was a member of Scotland’s Battlefield Band, a founder and long time member of England’s The House Band, and was a key part of Irish supergroup Patrick Street for 14 years.
For a number of years he also played with The Celtic Fiddle Festival. A talented singer, guitarist, and fiddle player, Ged provides a strong and creative approach to rhythm guitar and lifts those he accompanies. Born and raised in North East England, Ged now lives in Feakle. For further information Telephone 061 622487 www.quayarts.ie.