Aidan Connolly

Aidan Connolly (; born 1991) is an Irish fiddler and teacher from Dublin. Connolly is known for his unique style of fiddle playing and is a highly sought-after performer both in Ireland and abroad. He has been described by musician Cormac Begley as "one of the best musicians in his generation" and by others as "a leading fiddle player of the current wave of great Irish Traditional music".

Early life

Connolly was born into a musical family in Rathfarnham, Dublin, Ireland.

Outside of music, Connolly graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra, having studied primary school teaching alongside fellow musician and collaborator, Liam McGonigle.

Career

In 2013, Connolly performed as a duet with McGonigle (on button accordion) at St. Nicholas Collegiate Church, Galway and recorded a track on the Tunes in the Church album, released later that year. In October 2016, Connolly released his debut album, Be Off, with the Raelach Records label. The Journal of Music described it as an "extraordinarily accomplished debut album" and Daniel Neely of The Irish Echo described it "just brilliant". The album featured an array of rare and not-so-rare tunes from Ireland, supplemented by tunes from the Cape Breton and Shetland traditions. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by fellow musician, Jack Talty, who also contributed to it with his piano accompaniment.

Connolly has studied traditional Irish music in great depth, specialising in traditional instrumental music from the 1920s to the present. He is particularly interested in archive materials (books, manuscripts, recordings) and has a vast repertoire of tunes of traditional and more contemporary origin, as well as from other folk music genres. As a fiddle player, Connolly has his own unique style of playing which was heavily influenced by playing with his mother and uncle, as well as his mentor Tomás MacUileagóid.

Since 2024, Connolly has performed as John Sheahan in The Dubliners Encore, a stage show celebrating the work of the Irish folk band The Dubliners.

Media appearances

In 2012, Connolly featured on an episode of the TG4 series Geantraí, recorded in Jack Birchall's Pub in Ranelagh, Dublin. In the episode, Connolly plays a set of three reels ('The New Custom House', 'Spoil The Dance' and 'The Master's Return') alongside fellow musicians Niamh MacUilleagóid (harp), Tomás MacUilleagóid (fiddle), and Graham Guerin (button accordion). In August 2019, Connolly performed as a soloist on an episode of the TG4 series TradFest, playing a pair of reels: 'The Teetotaller' and 'The Templehouse'. In April 2020, Connolly performed a fiddle duet with Andrea Palandri as part of the first episode of the TG4 series Slí na mBeaglaoich, recorded in a church in Ardfert, County Kerry. In the episode, the duo perform a set of three reels: 'Tune for Vinny', 'Ballyheigue Castle' and 'The Pigeon on the Gate'.

Discography

Albums Be Off (2016) Away on Up the Road (with John Daly) (2019) The Portland Bow (2021) Keane Connolly McGorman (with Pádraic Keane, Fergus McGorman, and Ruairí McGorman) (2023) The Groves of Gneeveguilla (with Bryan O'Leary) (2025)

Guest appearances Tunes in the Church (with Liam McGonigle) (2013)