About

For this special one-off concert, two families connected by marriage come together to celebrate a shared love of traditional Irish music.

The McGovern family hails from Ballymagovern, a townland in County Cavan on the Leitrim border. At the heart of the family's musical story were Seamus and Aileen McGovern, whose passion for traditional music provided the inspiration and encouragement that nurtured the musical talents of their children: James (flute), Maggie (fiddle), Helena (piano), Andy (banjo), Rachel (accordion), Pádraig (uilleann pipes) and Sarah (concertina). Their musical journey began through classes with Ballinamore CCÉ under the guidance of Frank Kelly and was later enriched by tuition from Vincent Tighe, P.J. Flood, John Morrow and Fr. John Quinn.

Joining them are sisters Melissa McCague (fiddle) and Sabina McCague (fiddle and harp) from County Monaghan, who proudly continue a family tradition of fiddle playing handed down by their grandfather. Their love of traditional music was nurtured from an early age through their involvement with Corcaghan CCÉ, where they received their first musical guidance. They further developed their skills under the tutelage of Pheilim Ó Raghallaigh, whose influence has played a significant role in shaping their musical journey.

Together, these two families represent the enduring strength of Ireland's living musical tradition, where family, community and friendship continue to inspire and sustain the music across generations.