Folk Bands and Artists
Orlaith & Brogan McAuliffe
Órlaith and Brogan McAuliffe’s parents hail from Killarney, Co. Kerry, they were raised in a musical household in London. Both were taught the tin whistle at home, by their mother, Fidelma. At the age of nine, Órlaith took up the flute and at the age of ten Brogan took up the concertina under the tutelage of Maureen Linane. Órlaith and Brogan grew up attending numerous instrumental workshops at festivals, classes with Joe Searson, Maureen and Sinéad Linane. They were also surrounded by thriving Traditional Irish Music sessions in London.
Órlaith’s major influences on the flute include Olivia McTernan, Michael McGoldrick, Louise Mulcahy, Kevin Crawford, Peter Horan, Tom Doorley, Conal O’Grada, Aoife Granville, Paul McGlinchey and Matt Molloy. Órlaith has been an avid composer since the age of twelve, many of her tunes feature on her band CrossHarbour’s eponymous debut album (2014). She was awarded TG4’s Gradam Ceoil Ceoltoir Óg na Bliana for 2016 and has over twenty gold medals from the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoils under her belt.
Brogan’s main influences on the concertina include Micheál Ó Raghallaigh, Edel Fox, Timmy Collins and Kate McNamara. She holds 4 All-Ireland titles. Brogan has performed as a band member with ‘The London Lasses for over 10 years, recording two albums ‘The One I Loved the Best’ (2015) and ‘LL25’ (2022).
Brogan has played at world class venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican Centre and Trafalgar Square. Órlaith was a member of the All Ireland Award winning junior Auld Triangle Céilí Band; both she and Brogan currently play regularly with London’s popular Parish Céilí Band and have toured with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. They also both performed with the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, debuting Michael Rooney’s ‘Macalla 1916’. Both sisters are prominent musicians on the London session scene.
