Biography

Brendan Begley is bursting with the wild and beautiful music of West Kerry. As a singer he is a gentle giant. On the accordion, he is a force of nature. His is music that could not exist were it not for the mountains, seas and storms of his native "Corca Dhuibhne" more commonly known as the Dingle Peninsula.

Born into a famous musical family, the youngest of nine children, Brendan soaked up the music and song of West Kerry from an early age. Slides, polkas, songs and slow airs all run through his veins. He now carries on the tradition of his home place while playing with the next generation of Begley's, namely his children Bréanainn on Guitar, Cormac on concertina, Conchúbhair on accordion and Cliodhna on fiddle and sean-nós dancing.

He has three acclaimed solo albums to his name, as well as numerous recordings with the groups Boys of the Lough and Beginish. With the Boys of the Lough, he has toured extensively throughout the United States, and has been featured repeatedly on the Garrison Keilor radio program "A Prairie Home Companion". He also does work with TG4 researching and presenting proggrammes and also is involved in the organising of Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh which is held in west Kerry each February. www.scoilcheoil.com

Now teaching the C#D system via Skype! Click here to contact Brendan for a lesson.

Projects

Boys of the Lough
Member of Celtic band Boys of the Lough since 1997.
www.boysofthelough.com

Brendan Begley & Caoimhín ó Raghallaigh
Duo with Dublin fiddle player Caoimhín ó Raghallaigh.
www.stateofchassis.com
US Booking: www.rubyhoy.com

Tunes in the Church
Organised by Brendan's son Cormac in Galway City, Westport & Killarney.
www.tunesinthechurch.com

Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh
Irish music school held in west Kerry each February.
www.scoilcheoil.com

Folk the Recession
Paul Kelly, Elenor Shanley, Frankie Lane, Mike Hanrihan and Breanndán Ó Beaghlaoich
Web Poster - Print Poster

Click to see Breanndán Ó Beaghlaoich, Tommy Peoples & Laoise Kelly on The John Murray Show
Click here to listen to the full radio show
Begley's Know How To Put on a Show - Irish Echo
Brendan Begley - Seanscoil an Chuasa 2009

Click here to read an article on the 2012 Scoil Cheoil in Kerry

Latest CD - Fé Scáth/In The Shadow

1. Fonn Mall/Slow Air: De Bharr na gCnoc (notes)
2. Amhrán/Song: An Drúcht Geal Ceoigh (notes)
3. Fonn Mall/Slow Air: Port na bPúcaí (notes)
4. Waltzes/Bhaltzanna: Kevin Keegan’s, Ookpic Waltz, Cooley’ s(notes)
5. Fonn Mall/Slow Air: Caoineadh Sheáin Laoí (notes)
6. Amhrán/Song: The Conneeleys (notes)
7. Fonn Mall/Slow Air: Cuaichín Gheann Neifin (notes)
8. Poirt/Jigs: Melodeon (notes)
9. Amhrán/Song: Plúirín na mBan Donn Óg (notes)
10. Fonn Mall/Slow Air: An Raibh Tú Ar An gCarraig? (notes)
11. Amhrán/Song: Caoineadh Sheáin Laoí (notes)
12. Fonn Mall/Slow Air: Her Rolph’s Farewell (notes)
13. Amhrán/Song: De Bharr na gCnoc (notes)
14. Fonn Mall: Slán Le Seana-Ré (notes)

Click here to read additional notes

Click here to read The Irish Times review of Fé Scáth/In The Shadow

Upcoming Tour Dates

7 March 2013 Laoise Kelly/B Begley/Siobhán Peoples. A.LUNCHTIME CONCERT. Queens.

17 March 2013 BEGINISH. Terryglass Village Hall "Concert Setting" Gathering Weekend Festivities" in Terryglass Co.

21 March 2013 St John’s Listowel Co Kerry. Laoise Kelly and B Ó Beaglaoich

22 March 2013 The Lab, Dingle, Co Kerry. Laoise Kelly and B Ó Beaglaoich

23 March 2013 Féile Rafteraí, Loughrea Co Galway. Tommy Peoples,Laoise Kelly and B Ó Beaglaoich

31 March 2013 Maurice O Keeffe Festival. B Ó Beaglaoich and son Bréanainn Ó Beaglaoich on Guitar

4 April, 2013 Folk the Recession. The Moat Theatre, Naas, Co.Kildare. Phone: 045 883030 www.moattheatre.com

5 April, 2013 Folk the Recession. The Mill Theatre, Dundrum, Co Dublin. Box Office: 01 296 9340 www.milltheatre.ie

4 Saturday, 2013. Folk the Recession.

12 July 2013. Folk the Recession. Avon Ri Hotel. Blessington, Co.Wicklow. www.AvonRi.com PH:045-900670

14 July, 2013. Folk the Recession. Ceili at the Crossroads Festival. Clarecastle Hall, County Clare. ceiliatcrossroads@gmail.com

Contact

Brendan Begley & Caoimhín ó Raghallaigh Duo US Booking: Ruby Hoy