 A
native of County Down, Ireland, Brendan Monaghan is both an accomplished
traditional singer and a multi-talented instrumentalist. Entirely self
taught, he is a master of the Uilleann pipes, whistle, bodhran and
bones. Some of the titles he has held include all Ireland bodhran
champion, Ulster champion in traditional singing and three-time Ulster
whistle champion.
He was a founding member of the innovative band "Different Drums of Ireland". "Different Drums" bridges the cultural differences in Northern Ireland by bringing together bodhrans, Lambeg drums, long drums, bones, pipes and whistles. The ground breaking group has taken their rhythms to such prestigious venues as the White House, St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, the Kennedy Center, and the Milwaukee Irish Festival. More importantly, they often play on the close-to home stages of primary schools, youth clubs and community centers in Northern Ireland, using the power of their music to bring people together through shared traditions Brendan currently performs widely and is in great demand as a teacher and workshop leader at festivals and music camps. He is a member of Phil Coulter's orchestra and has recently founded a group of his own - Killultagh, which has at its heart the fast and furious music of Ulster. During Killultagh's first visit to the United States, in May 2002, they played to packed houses and rapt audiences, and the group promises to be an exciting new presence in Irish traditional music.
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