Catherine Rhatigan, Treasa Ni Mhaoilean, Eileen Carr

Catherine Rhatigan: Celtic harp, text
Treasa Ni Mhiolláin: sean nós singing
Eileen Carr: silver flute

Catherine Rhatigan has a long involvement with historically informed performance, and has scripted and directed pieces for the The Council of Europe, the James Joyce Institute Zurich, the Irish Underwater Archeology Unit and Spanish Armada Ireland, Bridget 2025 and Colmcille 1500 among others.

She weaves music, history, and imagination into powerful narrative performances. With her rich experience as a performer, playwright, and teacher, Catherine’s concerts are immersive cultural journeys. She has led major artistic initiatives and continues to explore the harp’s poetic and political resonance across time and place.

Eileen Carr is a music graduate from UCC, and in addition to teaching and performing, also directs a choral group in Donegal. She has also been involved with the Donegal Youth Orchestra for many years, mentoring young musicians. Widely respected for her dedication to music education and community choirs, Eileen has made a lasting impact on musical life in Donegal.

Catherine Rhatigan and Eileen Carr have been playing music together for over 25 years, performing in the U.S, France, England, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and South Africa with various ensembles.
Both musicians have a great love for Ireland’s ancient music, and its story, and over the years have developed an elegant repertoire of Carolan and older music, delivered on harp and flute.

Treasa Ní Mhiolláin was born on the Aran Islands and learned most of her singing from her parents.
She won the prestigious Oireachtas Competition for sean nòs singing in 1972 and again in 1979, and is today recognised as one of the finest exponents of that style of singing in Ireland.
She has performed all over Ireland and abroad, and was part of the famous Irish Folk Festival Tour in 1988, performing in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where she shared the stage with the now legendary groups Clannad and De Danaan.
She spent a year as artist in residence for UCG, and accompanied the Tabhearc Theatre Group on an American Tour with their production of The Cripple of Innnishman, where she played the part of a keener. She is now among the last of a generation of keeners from the islands, a style of singing she learned from her mother.