Tara Conaghan

Tara Connaghan is a highly regarded traditional fiddle player from Glenties, Co. Donegal, in the North West of Ireland and has been playing in the traditional arts scene for over 25 years. She has a curious interest and appreciation for other musics and artforms and she likes to explore the similar thought processes involved in each artform and how they can relate to each other.

Tara is a founding member of the all female 13 strong Donegal fiddle group, SíFiddlers, alongside Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Liz Doherty, Bríd Harper, Róisín Harrigan and more. In January 2023 they performed at a sold out headlining concert at the Temple Bar Trad Festival in the National Arena which attracted national news coverage from the Irish Independent (front page) and Irish Times. She is also part of a performance project with guitarist Steve Cooney, Irish language storyteller Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair, fellow Donegal fiddler Mick Brown and Anuna signer, Ellie Níc Fhionnghaile.

She studied her music Degree at University College Cork and received a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the University of Limerick. She also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Administration and a 3 year course with Na Píobairí Uilleann in learning the art of making uilleann pipes.

From 2009 – 2011 Tara took on the role of Festival Director at Éigse Carlow Arts Festival, having previously spent almost five years as Traditional Arts Specialist in the Clare Arts Office. From 2005 – 2013 she was selected as one of The Arts Council’s network of advisors for their traditional arts funding scheme, Deis, to mentor, guide and assist traditional artists in creating funding proposals. She took a permanent break from arts management in 2011 to begin concentrating on her musical career and released a well-received recording, The Far Side of the Glen, along with fellow Donegal fiddler, Derek McGinley, focusing solely on the fiddle style and repertoire specific to the southwest Donegal region, grant aided by The Arts Council.

After the death of her father in 2014, Tara took on the role of running the family construction business. She continued to perform and teach in a reduced capacity until June 2022 when she reduced her involvement in the construction business.

Tara was the recipient of a Music Network Music Capital Scheme Award in 2015 for a Noel Burke bow which she has enjoyed playing since June 2016.

Is fidléir traidisiúnta í Tara Connaghan, as na Gleannta, i gCo. Dhún na nGall. Tá sí ag plé le saol na n-ealaíon traidisiúnta le breis agus 25 bliain. Rinne sí céim sa cheol i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh agus bhain sí máistreacht amach sa cheol traidisiúnta Gaelach in Ollscoil Luimnigh. Tá Tara ar dhuine de bhunaitheoirí an ghrúpa fidléireachta ó Dhún na nGall, SíFiddlers, in éineacht le Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Liz Doherty, Bríd Harper, Róisín Harrigan agus go leor eile. Tá baint aici le togra eile ealaíon in éineacht leis an ghiotáraí Steve Cooney, an scéalaí Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair, an fidléir Connallach, Mick Brown agus an t-amhránaí Anuna, Ellie Níc Fhionnghaile. Ó 2009 – 2011 bhí Tara ina Stiúrthóir ar fhéile ealaíon Éigse Cheatharlach, tar éis di beagnach cúig bliana a chaitheamh roimhe sin mar Speisialtóir ar na hEalaíona Traidisiúnta in Oifig Ealaíon Chontae an Chláir. Ó 2005 – 2013 bhí sí mar chuid de ghréasán comhairleoirí na Comhairle Ealaíon don scéim, Deis, scéim a thacaíonn le healaíontóirí traidisiúnta tograí maoinithe a chruthú. Ghlac sí sos buan ó bhainistíocht na n-ealaíon in 2011 le díriú ar a cuid ceoil féin agus d’eisigh sí féin agus an fidléir Conallach, Derek McGinley, albam dar teideal The Far Side of the Glen, a dhírigh ar stíl agus ar stór ceoil fidle iardheisceart Dhún na nGall. Fuair ​​Tara Dámhachtain Scéim Chaipitil Ceoil Music Network in 2015.