Biography

Niall has been involved in the music business in Ireland since the early 1980s, and is well known as an accomplished, and sought after bouzouki player, and accompanist.

As an experienced session player, he has recorded with a diverse range of artists in different genres of music, from very traditional Sligo musicians Peter Horan and Fred Finn, to more contemporary acts such as Eurovision star Eimear Quinn and Spanish rock act Revolver.

Niall is best known for his involvement in the popular trad/jazz fusion band Deiseal with which he recorded 2 groundbreaking albums on the Starc label.

More recently, he has established himself as a respected record producer, and credits include Scotland based singer songwriter Lorraine Jordan, female rock duo D’Goya and most recently, well known Cork balladeer Jimmy Crowley.

Other artists with whom Niall has toured and recorded with include Donal Lunny’s Celtic Orchestra, Gerry (banjo) O’Connor, Lá Lugh, Phill Callery and Máire Breatnach.

In 2000, Niall was invited by the World Music Centre in Limerick University as a guest tutor for their Traditional Music Performance post-graduate degree.

Having recorded and toured with various bands and artists over the years, Niall has in recent times concentrated his efforts on his own projects, composing and recording his own music. In 1998, he released an experimental single Floor The Banjo (Pressure IRE9801).

April 2001 saw the launch of his first solo album Strings and Things (Pressure IRE9802), a collection of his own compositions, which showcases his talents as a composer.

This was followed by a tour with his band, jazz/blues guitarist Jimmy Faulkner, flautist Kevin Shields, Angolan percussionist Mario N’Goma and Martin Curry on bass, during which they recorded the Live (Phoenix PPCD102) album at a concert in The Spirit Store in Dundalk. The band play Niall’s own instrumental compositions, Irish based with a distinct jazz style.

As well as his work with his own band, Niall gigs regularly with fiddle player and composer Máire Breatnach, fiddler Mick Conneely and has also teamed up again with his old friend, whistle player Cormac Breatnach for occasional gigs.

Niall is constantly working on different projects in collaboration with other musicians and singers and plans to have some recordings of these projects for release in the future.

This year, Niall was selected as President of the Interim Committee of the Traditional Section of the newly formed Musicians Union of Ireland.


The Irish Bouzouki by Niall Ó Callanáin and Tommy Walsh with accompanying cassette, published by Waltons.

ISBN No. 1 85720 070 5