COMMUNITIES UNITED SPRING FESTIVAL BROCHURE PRINT

Brendan Molloy
Josie Nugent
Brian Stafford
Born in the Creggan area of Derry, Brendan’s first memories of Irish traditional music were in his home in Circular Road. A
big performer in Feis Doire Cholmcille, Slodagh, Scor, Fleadhanna and other musical events. The affable Derryman is now
well known in official Comhaltas circles as the chair of CCÉ Baile na gCailleach and chair of County Derry CCÉ County
Board and was also the vice chair of the Fleadh Executive Committee for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013. Brendan is a
wonderful custodian of Irish culture, a dedicated member of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann and the deserving winner of the
Bardic Award 2013. The Derryman was the recent recipient of the prestigious 1916 Commemorative Medal for Contribution
to the Irish Culture.
Musician, music therapist and renowned fiddle player, Josie Nugent hails from County Clare. The multiple All Ireland fiddle
champion is heavily associated with the festival circuit and has travelled to most counties in the country as well as further
afield. Josie featured in the Derry City of Culture 2013 programme with her ‘Traditions of Ulster Cross Community
Workshops and brings a wealth of experience to the festival. Indeed, she was honoured with the appointment of musical
director and composer for the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2013’s closing ceremony The Bridges of Derry which united world
class musicians from the province of Ulster and America. Noted for her dedicated work as a music educator and instructor
for fiddle workshops and master classes for musicians of all ages and she has a great interest in Irish folk music and is known
for recent collaborations and critically-acclaimed recordings including Hills and Hollows (2010) and The Caves of Cong
(2014).
Derryman and distinguished Uilleann piper Brian Stafford began playing the pipes as a teenager in his native city under the
tutelage of Finbar McLaughlin, and was soon the holder of a coveted All-Ireland title. An important part of the local band
Quilty, he performed alongside Malcolm Wray and Ian Stephenson before moving on to become a long term member of the
seminal Welch group Yr Hwntws Ceili Band. Most recently he has toured Switzerland and Romania under the baton of
Flavius Filip of the Convervatoire de Musique de Geneve. Now back in Ireland, the genial Derry native has teamed up with
Josie Nugent and has become a Scoil Eigse tutor. While remaining true to the tradition, his style is seen as progressive,
blending influences from folk idioms, jazz and even classical music.
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