Folk Bands and Artists
Cathal & Stephen Hayden
Cathal Sean Hayden was born on 13 July 1963, in the village of the Rock, Co Tyrone outside Pomeroy, an area immersed in traditional music. The third in a family of eight, he was born into a deep musical background. His father played the banjo and fiddle, and his mother was a pianist, while both grandfathers were fiddle players. His first instrument was a tenor banjo before progressing on to fiddle.
There was always great encouragement to play an instrument in the Hayden household; Cathal’s brothers, Stephen is also an accomplished musician. The family were often joined at their home by other musicians, who came at the invitation of Cathal’s father John, from various parts of Ireland, for a traditional ‘ceile’ at the family home.
