About Us

Jack Talty is a concertina and piano player from Lissycasey in west Clare. The rich west Clare music tradition has had a strong influence on Jack's music, particularly the music of Bobby Casey, Willie Clancy and John Kelly. In July 2011 Jack released Na Fir Bolg, a duet album with concertina player Cormac Begley and is currently working on a recording project with the innovative Ensemble Ériu. A regular performer and tutor at music festivals and workshops around the world, Jack has performed extensively throughout Europe, the United States and Australia and also has a wealth of experience working in recording studios as a musician, engineer and producer.

Cormac Begley is a concertina player and hails from a musical family from west-Kerry. He is influenced by music from Kerry and east Clare, namely his father Brendan, uncle Tommy 'an Lord' O Connor, Maurice Quinn, Muiris Ó Dalaigh, Mary Mac Namara, Martin Hayes and Paddy Canny. Cormac collects concertinas, he plays anglo concertina systems (C/G, G/D, Ab/Eb) and a baritone concertina (tuned to Bf/F). He has recently released a concertina duet with Jack Talty (www.jackandcormac.com), and is currently recording with his family (www.thebegleys.ie). He organises traditional Irish music concerts in three church venues along the west coast of Ireland (www.tunesinthechurch.com), and also teaches at a number of festivals including Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh and Willie Clancy Summer School.