Ciarán O'Connell is an Accordion, Melodeon player and an Uilleann piper from Pallasgreen, County Limerick and currently in 3rd year studying the BA in Irish Music in the University of Limerick. He started playing music in school and was driven to music through his grandfather. Having had many teachers in the past, from Vinny Murphy and Derrick Hickey on accordion, to Mikie Smyth and Blackie O’Connell on pipes, he has a wide range of influences and perspectives in music. Joining the Castleconnell, Ahane, Herbertstown Comhaltas branch under the tutelage of Sheila Cagney, competed in the Fleadh Cheoil for many years and was part of a Grúpa Cheoil that won the All-Ireland in 2018. As part of the Meitheal Summer school in 2019, Ciarán received a bursary to study in the University of Limerick for a week where he discovered his real passionate for music and decided to now study there full time. In 2021, he received the Mícheál Ó hEidhin Award, after achieving Distinction in his Grade 8 SCT exam. Following on in 2024, he completed the TTCT Teacher Training course run by Comhaltas. As part of a module in college, he presented a radio show through Irish on Raidío na Gaeltachta as part of the series “Ar Bhruach na Sionainne”.

Ciarán has travelled playing music in Egypt, America, England, Italy and Germany and in recent times is the Secretary and youth officer for Limerick Comhaltas, joined the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and is teaching regularly with Craobh Pheig Uí Riain CCÉ, Music Generation and Na Píobairí Uilleann and performs on a regular basis in the Locke Bar and in the White House Bar in Limerick City. In the summer 2024, Ciarán and one of his classmates and friends, Simon Crehan were awarded a scholarship to both perform and teach at the Millwaukee Irish Fest 2024, with own duo performances and guesting with some of Irish music’s finest bands, including Lúnasa and Goiste. Most recently, Ciarán alongside three friends of his started up a band, Alltacht and they received the Molloy Award from Birmingham Trad Fest 2024, an award that strives to seek out new musical talent and award excellence and innovation within the idiom of Irish Traditional Music and Song.