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    The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) is committed to providing free, universal access to the rich cultural tradition of Irish music, song and dance. If you’re able, we’d love for you to consider a donation. Any level of support will help us preserve and grow this tradition for future generations.

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    Home > Collections > Galleries

    Irish Traditional Music Accompanists

    The accompaniment of Irish traditional music and song as well as the range of instruments employed has evolved and expanded in pace with developments within the music itself. As accompanists continued to explore new avenues of expression, listening audiences have grown more appreciative of their impact on performance.

    This gallery of photographs while spanning the decades is a modest selection of accompanists and their instruments from the ITMA image collection.

    With thanks to Stephen Power, Dónal Lunny, Eve O’Kelly, Tony Kearns, Paul McCarthy and Danny Diamond for their permission to reproduce photographs.

    Martin Hayes, fiddle & Dennis Cahill, guitar / Colm Henry
    Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, guitar / Robert Dawson Studios photographer
    Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, piano / Stephen Power
    Caoimhín Ó Fearghail, guitar / [unidentified photographer]
    Geraldine Cotter, piano / Stephen Power
    Mick Conneely, bouzouki / Stephen Power
    Dónal Lunny, bouzouki / Stephen Power
    Alec Finn, bouzouki / Stephen Power
    Unidentified hammered dulcimer player / Eve O’Kelly
    Eleanor Kane, piano ; Johnny McGreevy, fiddle / [unidentified photographer]
    Johnny Moynihan, bouzouki / Joe Dowdall
    Ciaran Curran, bouzouki / [unidentified photographer]
    Harry Hamilton / [unidentified photographer]
    Paul Brady, guitar / [unidentified photographer]
    Instruments made by Andy Tobin [photograph] / Andy Tobin
    Daithi Sproule, guitar / David Aronow
    The Sands Family / [unidentified photographer]
    Sweeney’s Men / [unidentified photographer]
    Kitty Linnane, piano / Tony Kearns