News
staff bios
Check out our updated Staff Bios! Coming soon will be class schedules, camp information, and online registrations!
Staff
Pete Strickler – Tenor Banjo
Having spent his entire adult life being involved in music, from playing and promoting, to teaching, Pete Strickler finally found exactly what he was looking for when he was first introduced to Irish Traditional Music in his 30s. In 2006, Pete took over the reins of leading the Small Circle Read more…
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Paddy O’Brien – Accordion
A product of County Offaly, in Ireland, Paddy O’Brien is regarded by serious players and collectors of Irish traditional music as one of the tradition’s most important repositories; in a career that spans nearly fifty years, he has collected more than 3,000 compositions—jigs, reels, hornpipes, airs, and marches, including many Read more…
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Turlach Boylan – Flute
Turlach Boylan is the oldest in a musical family from Glenullin, Co Derry, but has lived in the USA since 1989. He is an accomplished player of flute, tenor banjo, and mandolin. Turlach made a couple of flute albums and the magazine Dirty Linen said something complimentary. Since moving to Read more…
Staff
Marla Fibish – Mandolin
Forty years ago, when Marla got bit by the Irish music bug, her late grandfather’s mandolin was the instrument that found its way into her hands, and soon into her heart. It has been her primary instrument and partner ever since. She has become one of the prominent voices of Read more…
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Dain Forsythe – Bodhrán
Dain Forsythe performed and taught bodhrán throughout the Southeast, placing first at the 2006 Southeastern Regional Irish Music Competition in Atlanta and later accompanied flute/whistle instructor, John Skelton (of The House Band), during his evening performance at the 2006 Southeastern Pipers’ Club Tionól. After relocating to New Mexico a few Read more…
Staff
Brian Conway – Fiddle
New York born fiddler Brian Conway is a leading exponent of the highly ornamented Sligo fiddling style made famous by the late Michael Coleman. The winner of two All- Ireland junior titles in 1973 and 1974 and the All-Ireland senior championship of 1986, Brian’s early studies were with his father Read more…
Staff
Matt Heaton – Guitar and Bouzouki
Matt Heaton is the son of noted organist/composer Charles Heaton, who instilled in Matt a love of music from an early age. His earliest exposure to Irish music was through an unlabeled cassette tape which contained “The Planxty Collection.” His search for more led him to the vibrant Chicago session Read more…
News
New Website
Hope you’re enjoying our new website for the Portal Irish Music Week! Keep your eye on this space, as we officially announce dates, staff additions, and news!