Ardán

While Sorcha’s style of fiddle playing is rooted in East Clare, she has been strongly influenced by musicians such as Frankie Gavin, Brian Rooney, and Tommy Potts. From a young age, Sorcha has enjoyed performing nationally and internationally. She is also in high demand as a teacher of music, especially in her home area of East Clare because of her ability to transmit her unique style which has the trademark rhythm and swing qualities of generations of her family. The 2016 duet album “The Lady’s Cup of Tea” released by Sorcha and Mary captures this trademark ‘rhythm’ and ‘swing’ of East Clare music. Sorcha has a BA in Music and English from UCC and a Masters in Music Therapy from UL.  She is now practising as a qualified Music Therapist but also continues to perform and teach traditional music.

Catherine is in high demand as an accompanist and has performed at many festivals and concerts nationally and internationally in recent years including the Birmingham,Trad Fest, Temple bar Trad Fest, The return to Camden Town, Ennis Trad Fest and Féile Strokestown to name but a few. She recently appeared on the critically acclaimed debut solo albums of banjo player Theresa O’Grady and Sligo accordion virtuoso Daithí Gormley. She has performed and recorded with the top musicians and singers in the tradition including Frankie Gavin, Tony Linnane, Dolores and Sean Keane, Daithi Gormley, Sorcha Costello, Edel Fox and Conor Connolly. She was a member of the Knocknashee Ceili band.

She features regularly on Irish television and radio. In 2013 she won the prestigious All Ireland senior accompaniment competition at fleadh cheoil na héireann. She is also an accomplished fiddle player and this has enhanced her understanding of piano accompaniment greatly.

Louise is a highly respected researcher in Irish traditional music and recently presented and researched a landmark documentary on women in uilleann piping for TG4 titled, Mná na bPíób. In 2020, Louise presented and curated a special half hour programme for ITMA titled, Drawing from the Well: The Liam O’ Flynn Collection. Louise was made custodian of Liam O’ Flynn’s B pipes by Na Píobairí Uilleann and contributed to the documentary on master piper Liam O’ Flynn titled, ‘Píobaire’.

Louise is a regular performer and contributor on television and radio. In February ’21, Louise performed on the Late Late Show traditional music celebration on RTÉ and also on the Late Late Show St. Patrick’s Day Special. Louise has featured on the TG4 Séamus Ennis Centenary Commemoration, presenting information on Séamus Ennis and performing material from his repertoire on the uilleann pipes. Louise featured on the television documentary titled ‘The Green Fields of Vietnam’ which aired on RTÉ in 2014. This documentary followed her travels to Vietnam with Professor of Irish Studies at NYU, Dr. Mick Moloney and her sister, Dr. Michelle Mulcahy. On this trip Louise collaborated with traditional Vietnamese musicians, promoted Irish Culture and explored the role of Irish Aid in Vietnam. Louise featured on the award-winning series Port for BBC Alba and TG4, where she collaborated with traditional Scottish musicians on the trip. Louise has also appeared on Fleadh TV in 2016, 2017 and 2018 as guest performer on the IFTA winning programme. Louise was a key contributor to the Uilleann Pipes UNESCO Heritage Bid short film submitted by the Department of Arts and Culture in 2016. On this video Louise presented spoken material and performed on the uilleann pipes. She also contributed to the TG4 series titled ‘Mná an Cheoil’ in 2016 and has performed on numerous occasions on the prestigious Gradaim Ceoil TG4. Louise performed on ‘Hup’ the Irish traditional music series for TG4 and has featured many times on Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann television series for RTÉ. Louise presented the traditional Irish Music series ‘Geantraí’ for the Irish language television station TG4. In March 2019, Louise featured on an hour-long radio documentary for The Rolling Wave on RTÉ Radio 1 where she presented her research on women in uilleann piping.

Louise has performed for such dignitaries as An t-Uachtarán Míchael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina and the Irish Ambassador of Ireland to Vietnam. During the 1916 commemorations, Louise co-produced, performed and researched the production titled ‘The Call of the Piper- Ceannt An Píobaire, 1916 Leader and Founder of Cumann na bPíobaire’. This project involved researching the repertoire and historical facts relating to the piping of Éamonn Ceannt and his involvement with Cumann na bPíobairí. This production was presented at the Arts in Action series at NUI Galway – 2016, Áras an Uachtaráin in April 2016 and Liberty Hall in April as part of the 1916 commemorations.

Louise has won many awards including Female Musician of the Year at the Live Ireland Awards 2017, jointly with her sister Michelle and previously in 2015 and 2005. Louise, alongside her father Mick, and sister Michelle, were recently awarded ‘Tradconnect Traditional Album of the Year’ for their latest album titled ‘The Reel Note’. Louise is a multi All Ireland Champion on the uilleann pipes, flute and whistle and won four Senior All Ireland titles on the same day at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Louise was named as one of the Stars of 2018 by the Irish times Culture Review. Louise graduated with her Masters degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2014 and was awarded the 2016 Doctoral Fellowship in Irish Music Studies at NUI Galway. Louise is currently researching the unique story of women in uilleann piping and has guest lectured at many Irish music festivals in Ireland, Scotland and the United States of America. Louise is bridging the gender divide “aided in no small measure by her ground breaking musicianship” – The Irish Times.
“ Louise is one of the finest musicians of her generation”.  –  Matt Molloy
“A gracious and brilliant talent.” – Fintan Vallely
“Mulcahy’s repertoire is as broad, welcoming and discerning as her instrumental virtuosity.” –      Siobhán Long – The Irish Times