Oisín Mac Diarmada – producer/fiddle

From Co. Sligo, a part of Ireland famous for its rich fiddle tradition, Oisín Mac Diarmada, is widely regarded for an individual and subtle stylistic approach to Irish fiddling. In 2003, following the release of his solo album, ‘Ar an bhFidil’ (On the Fiddle) on the Green Linnet label, the Irish Echo’s Earle Hitchner called him “one of the most gifted and creative traditional fiddlers playing today.” A graduate in Music Education from Trinity College Dublin, Oisín went on in 2001 to found Téada, currently one of Ireland’s best-known internationally touring bands, and currently is pursuing postgraduate research studies in the area of “Political Identity and Movement to Music”.

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh - vocals

A native Irish speaker, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh spent her formative years steeped in the music, song, and culture of the West Kerry Gaeltacht. Best known for her work with Irish super-group Danú, Muireann’s recent solo album “Daybreak”, showcases a sparkling vocal talent, and casts light on an intuitive ability to research and tastefully select from both the traditional and contemporary music repertory. Skillfully re-interpreting and delivering her chosen songs with heart-warming eloquence, Siobhan Long of ‘The Irish Times” declared Muireann to be “armed with one of the earthiest and most distinctive voices, not just in traditional circles, but anywhere.”

Sean McElwain – guitar

Born in Canada, raised in North County Monaghan and now resident in Galway, Seán brings a strong string dimension to the show, with his contribution on guitar and banjo. Since graduating from University College Galway with a Masters in Electronic Commerce, Seán has performed full-time with Téada, sharing stages during this time with the likes of The Dubliners, The Chieftains, Lunasa and Carlos Nunez. Outside of his involvement with Téada, Seán has recorded on a number of albums, and performed with a number of recent show productions.

Tristan Rosenstock – bodhrán/narration

From Glenageary in Co Dublin, Tristan's bodhrán playing encompasses a distinctive musical sensitivity. Having recently completed a Masters in Film & Television Studies from Dublin City University, Tristan brings an educational yet entertaining narrative element to the show through his colourful references to Irish Christmas themes.

Gráinne Hambly – Irish harp

Gráinne Hambly from County Mayo in the west of Ireland is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp. In 1998 she completed a Masters Degree in Musicology at Queen's University Belfast, for which her main research topic was music collections and the harp in 18th-century Ireland. Since then, Gráinne has toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States, giving concerts, workshops and masterclasses.

Tommy Martin – uilleann pipes/whistles

Originally from Dublin, now resident in St. Louis MO, Tommy’s rare musical talent and experience has brought diverse performances throughout the world varying from tutoring in New Zealand to performing with Riverdance in New York to recording with past members of rock band "Thin Lizzy". In January 2004 Tommy had the honour of performing a newly composed piece of music with the Chicago Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra.

Abbey Magill & Siena Hickey – Irish dancers

From Dallas, Abbey and Siena are examples of the exceptional Irish dancing talent to be found in the United States at present, both having met during dance lessons with Eimir Ni Mhaoileidigh in Austin, Texas. After wowing local audiences as special guests with ‘Irish Christmas in America’ during their Dallas performances in 2005 and 2006, both were invited to join the show for the entire coast-to-coast run this season, and are sure to be a hit with audiences all over the country.