Steve Cooney & Dermot Byrne - Cork Folk Festival

Steve Cooney is best known for his development of an influential style of guitar accompaniment to Irish dance music which he developed in West Kerry, and for which he won the National Entertainment Award with Séamus Begley in 1997. Despite participating in the making of over 250 albums, he only recently released his first ever solo CD – to huge critical acclaim – of solo guitar interpretations of ancient harp tunes, Ceol Ársa Cláirsí. In 2020 he was given the RTÉ Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Steve has toured and recorded with Stockton’s Wing, Seamus Begley, Sharon Shannon, Sinead O’Connor, Dermot Byrne and Iarla Ó Lionáird to name but a few.
 
Dermot Byrne shot to fame as a child prodigy on the accordion in his native Donegal and is still considered one of the finest accordion players in the tradition, with that sought-after combination of musical virtuosity and sensitivity. He toured for many years with Donegal trad band Altan. As well as the Irish folk tradition, he also dips into European and global accordion repertoires. He has recorded and toured with artists like Frankie Gavin, Steve Cooney, Paddy Keenan Stephane Grapelli, Sharon Shannon and The Stunning along with many other outstanding Irish and International musicians. For his contribution to Irish music Dermot was chosen as TG4`s Traditional Musician of the Year 2013.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Patrons will need to be immune (fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 6 months) or accompanied minors (under 18), in line with sectoral guidance. Patrons must present their Covid certificate (on their phone if possible) upon entry to the venue and will be asked to wear a mask during the performance.