Local Legends of Traditional Irish Music in the North West of Ireland.

It has been a great privilege to play and photograph some of the best Irish traditional musicians in our area .We have a great variety of music styles in the region.
Regional styles came into being because in the past Ireland was a remote, rural and poor country. Many musicians only heard the music of others in their locality and so were influenced to play similarly. Characterisitics that which determine styles include, phrasing, articulation, variation, favoured instruments and dance types and special performance techniques.
However, many players developed their own personal style of playing within these regions. Some regions have their own type of tunes they favour. e.g. The Sliabh Luachra area is famous for Polkas.

Sligo fiddlers generally used more ornamentation than others. They played very quickly and flowing with slurred bows. The fiddle playing of Sligo man Michael Coleman had a strong influence  over all the country, not just Sligo.
In Donegal, there was an emphasis on dexterity of bowing, with very even rhythms, mostly single bows creating an unmistekable staccato sound. -Tommy Peoples.
Sliabh Luachra- Extensive range of Polkas and Slides. Unique style of bowing can also be heard in their reels.
East Galway - known for it emphasis on melody.
Styles of piping varied from player to player not region to region.
Clare has always been the leader of piping tradition-Willie Clancy school.
Very popular in Sligo and Leitrim/Roscommon.  (Matt Molloy) Very fast pace and heavily ornamented.