Davóg Frayne-Button Accordion

Davóg Frayne comes from Knock, County Mayo and is the founding member of The Piper's Cross Céilí Band. A graduate from the University of Limerick in Irish Music and Dance, Davóg has been influenced musically by Paddy Ryan, Tommy Doherty, Teresa O'Grady, Tommy Fitzharris and Derek Hickey. Davóg's family are steeped in local set-dancing and sean-nós dancing traditions and continue to pass down the practices to the next generation. Davóg developed a grá for céilí bands while spending his underage years playing with 'The Admiral Brown Céilí Band' from Mayo, under the tuition of John and Maria McHugh. He is delighted to help bring the All-Ireland title to County Mayo, and also to his home Comhaltas branch, 'CCÉ Cr. An Choisdeilibhe Róisín Bean Uí Cheallaigh', named in honour of his late grandmother Rose Kelly.

Edel Fleming-Concertina

Edel Fleming hails from Tooreen in County Mayo. She joined the band in 2019. She is a Primary School Teacher in Tooreen N.S where she also teaches music to the children. She competed in grúpa cheoil and céilí band competitions with 'The Rolling Waves' at underage level. She placed third in the All-Ireland Senior Concertina Competition in 2012, and received the Micheál Ó hEidhin award in 2016. Edel and Davóg were also members of the Senior Scór Instrumental group that won the All-Ireland in 2018.

Aodhán Hughes-Banjo

Aodhán Hughes from Carnacon, is the youngest member of the band. The All-Ireland Fleadh in Mullingar 2023 was a memorable year for him, as he was fortunate enough to take 1st place in 15-18 Banjo, 15-18 Duets, and 15-18 Grúpa Cheoil competitions, to add to the coveted Senior Céilí Band title. The playing and teachings of Noel Kilkenny and Teresa O'Grady hold monumental influence over his playing. The younger brother of band member Eoghan, Aodhán has been amongst the music scene since a toddler, where his first instrument was the spoons! He plays an Epiphone model A banjo, and somehow managed his Leaving Certificate studies with the band's commitments during the 2023/24 period.

Caoimhe Kilkenny-Fiddle

Caoimhe Kilkenny comes from a musical family in Castlebar. She is a multi-instrumentalist, with many All-Ireland medals across her various instruments. Caoimhe grew up surrounded by music, and first learned the fiddle from her father John. She later attended classes with Sligo fiddle player Declan Folan. Caoimhe received the Micheál Ó'hEidhlin award after qualifying from the Comhaltas TTCT in 2022 with distinction. She is a well-known music teacher around the Castlebar area and regularly tutors at various summer schools throughout the country. Caoimhe now tutors the Rolling Waves music group alongside her younger brother Cian, which was originally founded by her father John, some might say nepotism was involved in the hiring process! Caoimhe is also a qualified Primary school teacher, and has been a member of the band since its debut back in 2019.

Eoghan Hughes-Fiddle

Eoghan Hughes is the youngest of the band's fiddle triplet. Another Carnacon man and proud older brother of band member Aodhán, he was taught by the great Noel Kilkenny, along with his 4 musical siblings. He has competed at all levels of the Fleadhanna in solos, grúpaí ceoil and bands with 'The Rolling Waves', and his students have also enjoyed much success. Eoghan and Aodhán also danced for the Coleman school of Irish dancing. They have competed at every level, and Eoghan has also toured professionally. He is currently studying medicine in the United Kingdom, giving him the longest commute home to gigs! The self-titled 'Head of Communications' for the band, Eoghan joined the band in 2020, and has been an active member ever since.

Paul Clesham-Fiddle

From Hollymount, County Mayo, Paul began learning music with Bernie Geraghty in Ballindine from a young age. Awards he has won include the Senior Concertina and Accompaniment competitions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the Mary V. Hart Memorial Prize in UCC, and the Seán Ó Riada medal for Irish Traditional Music in UCC. He holds a BA in Music & Irish, and a BMus and an MA in Ethnomusicology from University College Cork, where he is currently undertaking a PhD in Music, along with teaching modules in classical music. He has travelled worldwide teaching and performing music, and has released a duet CD with fiddle player Conor Arkins in 2023 entitled, 'The Morning Thrush'. At present, he enjoys teaching music in Cork, and is actively involved in a variety of educational projects around Cork city and county, including directing the Ensemble Mhúscraí in the Ionad Cultúrtha in Baile Bhúirne.

Conor Maheady-Flute

Conor Maheady, from Killala Co. Mayo joined the band in 2023. He started playing the flute under the guidance of Hazel O'Donnell and Peter Neary with CCÉ Bofield when he was 10 years old. He fondly remembers going to the weekly 'Seisiún' run by the branch in the Father Peyton Centre in Attymass every summer as a child-where the jelly snakes were in high demand! He continues to tutor many young local musicians today. He was taught for many years by Teresa O'Grady, whose music has had great influence on his playing. In 2019, he won the Senior Flute Slow Airs competition at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Drogheda, and in 2024, he placed 2nd in the Senior Flute competition at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Co. Wexford. He enjoys gigging as part of the Trad-Folk group, 'In Tune'. Currently working as a community pharmacist, he reckons a good night of craic agus ceoil is the best medicine!

Cian Kilkenny-Flute

Flute player Cian Kilkenny grew up in Belcarra, just outside Castlebar. His flute of choice being a Stéphan Morvan. He is the younger sibling of Caoimhe Kilkenny, also a member of the band. Having grown up within a musical family, Cian was always surrounded by music thus, while he plays the flute in the band, he also plays the accordion, fiddle, and bodhrán. He is one of the younger members of the band, having got the call in 2022. Like his family he teaches many local musicians, and helps coach the Rolling Waves music groups alongside his sister Caoimhe, and the founder, John Kilkenny. He is currently attending Mary Immaculate College, studying Music and English. He is working towards a career as a teacher, either primary or secondary, a choice long waiting to be made.

Eoin Walsh-Piano

Eoin Walsh from Ballinrobe, originally started playing classical piano at age 11, under the watchful eye of Eamonn Mulderrig in Kilmaine, County Mayo. He was introduced to traditional music at age 16, when he got involved with the Cleary Coyne Comhaltas branch, in Claremorris. He is an active volunteer at the Mayo and Connaught Fleadhs, what his role involves exactly, is the question. He met the rest of the band first as friends at these competitions, and then decided to form the band together, where he was later christened 'Bing Bong'. He was delighted to be asked by Davóg to join the band, saying yes without hesitation and the rest is history.

Ryan Maguire-Céilí Drums

Ryan Maguire is the adopted Mayo man of the group, originally hailing from Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh. He started drumming at age 6, on a drum kit bought by his grandparents. Dinny Leonard then gave him the opportunity of playing in ‘The Erne Islands’ Marching Band, and continued to play in local céílí bands at under age level and has also competed in solo’s, at all ages. Ryan joined the band in 2023, and winning the senior band title was a day Ryan and his proud musical family will never forget.

Cian McNamara- Guitar and Vocals

Cian McNamara was born and raised on Achill Island, Co. Mayo. He began playing music and singing when he was eight years of age at the local music school, Scoil Acla, where he is now a tutor and is the current vice-chairperson on the committee. He graduated from the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick in 2017 with a BA in Irish Traditional Music. This experience afforded him the opportunity to perform alongside many internationally renowned musicians including the late Micheál Ó Súilleabháin, The Chieftains, Finbar Furey, The High Kings and the RTE Concert Orchestra, among others. He has performed at internationally-recognised venues such as Dublin Castle, Croke Park, the TF Royal Theatre, The University Concert Hall, Limerick and Lews Castle, Scotland. He is a founding member of the Pipers Cross Céilí Band and The Achill Lads and has performed throughout Ireland, U.K., Europe and the USA.

Carol Freeley-Vocals

Carol Freeley is a vocalist on the “Pipers Cross” album and is from Mayo. A graduate from the University of Limerick where she studied a BA in Voice and Dance. Carol has completed all her Royal Irish Academy of Music exams to a high standard and she now tutors pupils in vocal techniques, performing preparation and RIAM exams. Carol has followed the Pipers Cross Céilí Band since their debut at the Mayo Fleadh back in 2019, and she regards being accompanied by the All Ireland Céilí band winners as an honour and privilege.