Bríd Meaney

County Clare is famous for its concertina playing and Bríd Meaney is one of the county’s leading female exponents of the instrument. Born and reared in Ennis, she grew up listening to some of the great concertina players from Clare such as Chris Droney, Sonny Murray, Noel Hill and John McMahon. Bríd learned her music at an early age from Gus Tierney, a member of the original Kilfenora Céilí band, which first came to national prominence in the 1950s.

Over the years, she has won titles at all levels culminating in the Senior All-Ireland concertina title in 1995. Bríd has toured with various groups throughout the UK, Europe, America and Canada. She has worked regularly as a session musician and has given workshops at many summer schools including Willie Clancy, Tubbercurry, Drumshambo and Mrs Crotty’s. This is Bríd’s third time teaching at RtCT – she is back by popular demand.