The Shetland Folk Festival always keeps an eye on the next generation of talent, and this special trio showcases the richness and vitality of contemporary Donegal traditional music. Led by acclaimed fiddle player Megan McGinley (Megan Nic Fhionnghaile), and joined by Nia Byrne and Marty Barry, these musicians are outstanding representatives of the next generation of a living tradition, rooted in the Donegal Gaeltacht and connected through family, community and shared musical heritage.
Megan McGinley is an award-winning fiddle player from Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, a region renowned for its Irish-language culture and distinctive fiddle style and musical heritage. Immersed from a young age in the songs and tunes of her community, her playing embodies the distinctive style and spirit of the Donegal tradition. She graduated with a BA in Irish Music from the University of Limerick in 2022 and the same year toured the UK with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. An Ulster Senior Fiddle Champion and All-Ireland Fleadh finalist, Megan has performed alongside many of Ireland's most respected traditional musicians, with her music taking her across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and North America.
Nia Byrne is a another young fiddle player and singer from the North-West Donegal Gaeltacht and a leading voice of her generation. She learned her music at home from her mother Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, her father Dermot Byrne, and her cousin Ciarán Ó Maonaigh. Deeply rooted in the Donegal fiddling tradition, Nia now teaches at An Chrannóg, a traditional music school where music is taught through Gaelic. She regularly attends Fiddle Week in Glencolmcille and the Willie Clancy Summer School. She has toured with Altan in the USA and Australia and was part of the 2024 Lorient Interceltic Festival music camp.
Marty Barry, from Banbridge, County Down, is a highly respected guitarist, banjo player and singer, and a familiar face to Shetland Folk Festival audiences through his previous appearances with The Friel Sisters and The High Seas. Coming from a long line of musicians spanning back to the 1800s, Marty’s interest in music came from the stories and recordings of his great-grandmother Maggie Barry, spurring him on to develop his own music at the University of Limerick. Since then, Marty has arranged and recorded for a vast array of artists, most recently featuring on Damien Dempsey’s latest release and is soon releasing his debut solo album titled ‘The Sweet Bann Waterside’. Comprised mostly of traditional pieces, most of the songs were hand picked from Cathal O’Boyle’s ‘Songs of the County Down’.
Together, Megan McGinley, Nia Byrne and Marty Barry bring a powerful blend of tradition, youth and experience, offering Shetland audiences an authentic and exciting snapshot of Irish music today from three of the most exciting emerging voices. This trio will be leading many sessions in this year's Festival Club, helping celebrate the rich fiddle heritage links between Shetland and Donegal.
