2024

We are really pleased to be welcoming back former GT tutors and friends of many us, Caroline Keane and Tom Delany!

Caroline Keane

Caroline’s musical journey has been a long and happy one. Caroline began taking tin whistle lessons at her local Comhaltas branch, and soon afterwards progressed on to concertina. Under the guidance of her teacher, Noel Hill, she developed proficiency in her art, and by fifteen, was performing both nationally and internationally. In 2006, Caroline was awarded the prestigious Lán Mara award, in recognition of outstanding achievement in national music examinations.

Caroline has been playing concertina for more than twenty years and professionally since 2007. She achieved a first class honours while studying Irish traditional music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. She has most recently graduated from the university’s Master of Arts in Traditional Irish Music Performance, where she again achieved the coveted first class honours. Caroline is a prolific composer of contemporary Irish repertoire inspired by her interaction with traditional music on a local and national level, since studying composition within her BA degree.

In addition to her TTCT diploma in Irish traditional music teaching, Caroline also completed a Professional Diploma in Music Education in 2012. Her versed approach to tutelage is not only a testament to her musical expertise, but demonstrates the patience and empathy of experience. She is a regular performer and tutor at Irish, roots and folk music festivals all over the world, and composes, lectures teaches and performs regularly around the South West of Ireland. She is in the process of recording her second solo album

Tom Delany

Born and raised in France, Tom hails from an upbringing, steeped in traditional music. His lively rhythmic style, is truly unique. Having toured the world, performing in both solo and group contexts, from the United States to New Zealand, he boasts musicianship beyond his years.

Tom has been playing Irish traditional music since the age of 12, when his father Rory, who emigrated from Ireland in the 1980’s taught him to play the tin whistle. By thirteen, Tom had picked up the uilleann pipes, and was already performing regularly around France.

Inspired by the travelling style of piping which he encountered in recordings of Johnny Doran, Paddy Keenan and Davy Spillane, Tom’s music was later greatly influenced by the playing of Mickey Dunne, John McSherry and Blackie O’Connell. Since his first of many visits to county Clare, Tom has also developed a particular fondness for the music of the west of Ireland.

In 2009, Tom completed his undergraduate degree, specialising in Irish folklore at University College Dublin.

He was accepted to the MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the Irish World Academy of Limerick, from which he graduated in 2013. In August 2012, Tom claimed second place in the prestigious All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. He currently resides in Dingle, Co. Kerry, where he performs regularly.