About Uilleann Piper Darragh Ó Héiligh

Internationally recognised multi-instrumentalist Darragh Ó Héiligh is particularly renowned as an Uilleann Piper with a contemporary, energetic and distinctive style. He is a sought after and welcome presence at sessions and formal performances all over Ireland.

Darragh comes from a very strong musical background. his great grandmother along with her family started the first traditional Irish group of its kind in the north east with a picture showing them playing just outside Drogheda in 1926.

Playing music since before he started school, Darragh began like most children with the whistle. However, a chance encounter with a master of Uilleann Piping Mick O’Brian was to change his musical direction permanently. Darragh was instantly enthralled by the full and powerful sound of the pipes and by age seven he had started taking regular lessons. IN addition to Mick O’Brian, Darragh has been fortunate to learn from pipers such as Gay McKeon and Finbarr Fury. He is continually inspired by the playing of pipers such as John McSherry, Davy Spillane, Tommy Reck, Paddy Keenan and Sean Potts.

Darragh currently performs all over Ireland as a soloist and as part of several groups such as Tradify, (pipes, whistle and bouzouki, Dabilla, (pipes, guitar and vocals and  Lir (pipes, fiddle, cello and piano). Videos can be found on this site.

When not performing Darragh aspires to increase the accessibility of traditional Irish music through many innovative projects.

• Ceol FM listen to traditional Irish music at any time of the day or night from anywhere in the world for free.
• Music at the Gate A community event based on music where traditional Irish musicians, singers and dancers perform in front of the iconic Laurence’s gate in Drogheda.

Contact Darragh to arrange a unique and personalized performance.

Darragh can also provide amplification for groups of up to 16 concurrent musicians to suit indoor or outside small or medium size venues. High quality recording equipment and production is also available.

Current regular performance locations:

• Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda
• Highlanes Gallary, Drogheda
• Scholars, Drogheda
• The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
• ogarty’s, Temple Bar
• The Left Bank, Temple Bar
• The Quays, Temple Bar
• The Norsemen, Temple Bar
• The Button Factory, Temple Bar
• The Vat house, Temple Bar
• The Celt, Dublin
• The Arlington Hotel, Dublin
• Devitt’s Pub, Dublin
• The Palace Bar, Dublin
• The Merchants, Dublin
• The Brazen Head, Dublin
• The Old Store House, Dublin
• The Black Bull Inn, Drogheda
• The Punt, Drogheda
• Sarsfields, DroghedaPeggy Moore’s, Drogheda
• The Grey Goose, Drogheda
• The Becks, Co. Meath