Trad Week is excited to host an exciting double header featuring a musical family with strong roots in Gaoth Dobhair in the West Donegal Gaeltacht – The legendary folk group, Na Casaidigh and rising star Sibéal Ní Chasaide, known mononymously as Sibéal, who has become a household name for her haunting melismatic sean-nós singing style.
Irish traditional group Na Casaidigh (The Cassidys) are renowned for their performances of classic Irish songs such as Bó na Leathadhairce, Báidín Fheilimí, Peigí Leitir Móir and Beidh Aonach Amárach.
The group, which consists of brothers Aongus, Seathrún, Ciarán, Fionntán, Feargus and Odhrán, has been based in Dublin for many years, but the family originally hails from Gaoth Dobhair in the West Donegal Gaelacht.
Music was woven through the boys’ childhood through their father, a long-time church choirmaster, learning piano or fiddle first, followed by other instruments including whistles, pipes, bodhrán and guitar.
The group has toured throughout the United States, including stops in New York at St Patrick’s Cathedral and Radio City Music Hall and have received welcomes at Philadelphia Folk Festival and Colorado Symphony Orchestra. In West Africa they appeared at a celebration held to mark the Lome Convention’s signing by the European Union.=
Their first venture into the world’s spotlight came during a mid 80s visit to Ireland by US President, Ronald Reagan. The Irish government requested a performance from the brothers for a state banquet which was televised live from Dublin Castle. The brothers repeated the state honour about a decade later during US President Bill Clinton’s peace -promoting trip to their country.
Sibéal Ní Chasaide’s unique vocal qualities and singing style command attention wherever she appears and she has already achieved the recognition and admiration in her own country that would normally take many years to attain.
Her debut EP Live at Abbey Road was recorded in the iconic studio in London and brings together contemporary and traditional songs utilising the sean nos style. Her album Sibéal, released in August 2019, features a variety of songs sung both in Irish and English, with lush orchestrations by Irish composer/producer Patrick Cassidy and others bearing the stamp of the American composer/producer Craig Stuart Garfinkle. The choice of tracks ranges from exquisite examples of the Irish tradition to outstanding songs from a more modern, international milieu.
Sibéal’s has gone on to perform in London, New York, Toronto and Sydney, is a regular on national television and radio and works with the Irish government in showcasing Ireland’s culture to international visiting dignitaries.
In 2020 Sibéal recorded Dreams with Irish Women in Harmony which has raised substantial support for Safe Ireland and most recently, she was delighted to be invited to sing Stand for Hope for the animation movie Two By Two: Overboard which was nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award.
Sibéal recently completed her second EP ‘Twilight Lavender’ which was for released in late August 2022.
