We’re glad to have Portal alumni, John Whelan returning in 2020 to teach button accordion!
Born in London, in his youth John was blessed to play with some of great names in an older generation of players, such as Lucy Farr, Brian Rooney and Bobby Casey, to name but a few. After winning his first three All-Ireland button accordion competitions, he was approached to record his first LP, The Pride of Wexford, at the age of fourteen and an EP with Christine Considine, produced by the legendary Finbarr Dwyer.
He made several appearances on RTE and British television before moving to the US in 1980 where he teamed up with Eileen Ivers for a few years, culminating in the recording, Fresh Takes with Mark Simos on guitar. In 1990, he released a solo CD, From The Heart, and in 1996, he signed a record deal with Narada Records and went on to write, record and produce seven CDs bringing him into the Top Ten on the Billboard World Music Charts with sales in excess of one million.
John has also appeared in two films, Ride with Devil, directed by Ang Lee and Gods & Generals, directed by Ron Maxwell and has performed on the Conan O’Brien Show.