Daniel Neely

Daniel T. Neely is a musician and ethnomusicologist (New York University, Ph.D. 2008) with specialties in the musics of Ireland and Jamaica. Since 2008 he has been the Public Relations Officer of the Mid-Atlantic Region of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s North American Province, from 2011-2016 he was the artistic coordinator of the Augusta Irish Week, a Irish music camp in Elkins, West Virginia, and since 2021 he has been on the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee-based Ward Irish Music Archives, the largest public repository for Irish music in the United States.

He plays tenor banjo and fiddle, loves playing at sessions, and has been a member of both the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra and the New York Céilí Band.  He has given invited lectures on this history of Irish music at Boston College, the Catskills Irish Arts Week, the Ward Irish Music Archives, Na Píobairí Uilleann in Dublin, Ireland, and elsewhere.

Latest Stories

High-level album from top trio High-level album from top trio
Fiddle, box, and piano is a classic instrumental grouping. For me, the die for this array was cast in the 1960s, when Andy McGann, Joe Burke and Fe...
Mercy Center fundraiser on Nov. 16 to recall Moloney Mercy Center fundraiser on Nov. 16 to recall Moloney
For more than a decade, Donie Carroll, one of New York City’s great musical fixtures, has organized an annual fundraising concert in support of Mer...
Boclés' album shows uilleann possibilities Boclés' album shows uilleann possibilities
A bit of a trad-adjacent column this week! First bit of news is the announcement that the Cork International Choral Festival’s 2025 Seán Ó Riada Co...
Great follow-up from superb duo Great follow-up from superb duo
Lots of great music out there these days which means I’ve got some great stuff to look forward to writing about and this week is no exception. In t...
MIller's new show from the Twin Cities is a great listen MIller's new show from the Twin Cities is a great listen
This week I’ll lead with a mighty congratulations to Fiona Ritchie, who at the end of last month stepped away from “The Thistle & Shamrock,” the NP...
Album embodies ITMA's mission Album embodies ITMA's mission
Sad news to start with this week in the passing of Rochester, New York’s Ted McGraw. McGraw was a cornerstone of Irish music in the Northeast. In a...
Wynne & McEvoy a joy to listen to Wynne & McEvoy a joy to listen to
In the player this week is “The Dancer at the Fair,” the new album from John Wynne (Flute) and John McEvoy (Fiddle). Wynne and McEvoy are revered m...
Trio's 'Odyssey' has great, complex vision Trio's 'Odyssey' has great, complex vision
I’ll start this week with a hearty congratulations to the great Jimmy Crowley, who, in addition being a brilliant singer, has fascinated readers wi...
Blarney Star begins this Friday Blarney Star begins this Friday
If it’s fall in New York City, it means that a new season of Don Meade’s Blarney Star concert series is about to get underway. Hosted by Meade and ...
Sept. 23 concert to recall titans Sept. 23 concert to recall titans
Each year in September, an New York City-based organization called “The Village Trip” stages a multi-sited festival to “celebrate arts and activism...
West Cork's Ó Meachair releases another outstanding album West Cork's Ó Meachair releases another outstanding album
A couple things to let readers know about this week. I’ll start with the Irish Music Traditional Archive’s just-launched hour-long video interview ...
Achill inspires piper Ó’Loingsigh Achill inspires piper Ó’Loingsigh
First off, congrats to everyone who went over to compete at the Fleadh this year! Special congratulations to Los Angeles’s own Rio Navarro, who pla...

 

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