About Us

Amy McNamara was born and raised in the East Clare village of Tulla, an area steeped in traditional Irish music. She comes from a very musical family and grew up surrounded by the local East Clare style of playing. Amy started playing the fiddle at the early age of eight and was naturally influenced by the local style. She has had much success in many national competitions over the years, most recently winning the Senior Céilí Band competition with the Cnoc na Gaoithe Céilí Band at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Drogheda 2019, as well as winning three in a row Munster titles with the Céilí Band in 2017, 2018 & 2019. Amy has toured worldwide with the performing group Cnoc na Gaoithe most recently performing in Shanghai and South Africa to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge, as well as touring Europe with her siblings Kate and Gearóid. Amy is a newly qualified primary school teacher and enjoys passing on her love of music to the next generation.

Gearóid McNamara hails from Tulla, Co. Clare, an area steeped in Irish music. He started learning music at a very young age and is heavily influenced by the local East Clare style. Gearóid plays multiple instruments in the band including piano, whistle, accordion and concertina and has had much success in many national competitions over the years, most notably winning the coveted Senior Céilí Band competition with the Cnoc na Gaoithe Céilí Band at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Drogheda 2019. He has toured extensively throughout Europe with the performing group ‘Danceperados of Ireland‘ and performed in Washington D.C, Shanghai and most recently South Africa with Cnoc na Gaoithe to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge in March 2019. He is a much sought after accompanist and has been involved in many successful albums including Fergus Bogue’s debut album ‘Díreach ón gCroí‘ and Aoibheann and Pamela Queally’s duet album ‘Beyond the Bellows and the Bow‘. He is a qualified Irish and Geography secondary school teacher and enjoys playing and teaching at different festivals and events around the country.

Kevin Carey a native of Chicago, IL grew up in a family immersed in Irish music. He began playing Irish music at a very young age, influenced by his father Ger Carey. Kevin plays multiple instruments including the drums, tin whistle, and flute in the band. He has won numerous titles at both the national and international level for bands and solo competitions he has participated in, most notably winning the Senior Céilí Band competition with the Cnoc na Gaoithe Céilí Band at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Drogheda 2019. In addition to playing in the band Kevin has toured extensively with a band called Chicago Reel throughout the United States and Canada before moving to Ireland and since then with Cnoc na Gaoithe including trips to China and most recently South Africa. He also teaches Irish music to his own students and enjoys passing on the love of Irish music and tradition to a new generation.

Colm Slattery was born in the parish of Burgess in Co. Tipperary, a place synonymous with the late Paddy O’ Brien of traditional music button accordion fame. Colm was tutored by Ned Kelly on the accordion and Billy Greenall R.I.P. on the piano and has many All-Ireland Fleadh titles attained at both underage and senior levels. He has toured with Comhaltas in Ireland, England, China and most recently Cairo in Egypt performing on button accordion, melodeon and piano. Colm has performed regularly on the session scene in places such as Brú Ború Cashel, Cnoc na Gaoithe Tulla, Peppers and Lena’s of Feakle, Larkins Garrykennedy and Rohans of Nenagh. Along with this he has performed regularly with his brothers Niall, Ciarán, Cathal and Diarmuid, ably managed by his sister Niamh in The Rambling House in Nenagh with the late Nóra Butler Swan R.I.P. and performed at concerts and given workshops throughout Ireland to great acclaim. Colm brings a distinctive uplift to traditional music with his lively style of playing which is reflective of the music of his native area along with the polka style associated with the Gaeltacht of West Kerry. He brings a knowledge far beyond his years of the richness of the tradition while also embracing elements of the modern music scene. When not playing music, Colm can be found listening to it regularly while pursuing his other passions of animals, farming and socialising! Bainigí súp as an gceol!