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

Catalog reveals Begley's genius Catalog reveals Begley's genius
Folks, with the news of Seamus Begley’s recent death I took time this past week to go back through his catalog and listen to some of his older work...
Mourning treasures early in 2023 Mourning treasures early in 2023
The year 2023 has been a real challenge for traditional music thus far. Only two weeks into this new year we’ve seen several noteworthy deaths that...
Two players, two piano styles Two players, two piano styles
There are lots of great piano players associated with the East Coast. Names like Brendan Dolan, Matt Mulqueen, Donna Long, Helen Kisel, and Annmari...
Piper tells elegant personal story Piper tells elegant personal story
Happy New Year everyone! I hope your end-of-year was full of warmth and good cheer, and best of luck as we move on to 2023! We have some excitement...
Racket Records marks 25 years with compilation Racket Records marks 25 years with compilation
A few quick hits this week as we motor forth toward Christmas! A couple columns ago I wrote about John Carty and Mick McCormack’s album “At Our Lei...
Tale draws in deep musical tradition Tale draws in deep musical tradition
Folks, it’s all systems go for the holidays around here. The Christmas tree and most of the decorations are up at our place, and we’ve a little bit...
Carty & McGoldrick explore, elevate pipes/banjo combination Carty & McGoldrick explore, elevate pipes/banjo combination
Some very unfortunate news to lead with this week: Reidin O’Flynn, who for the last several years was the director and guiding light of the Catskil...
ITMA spread the word at IAC ITMA spread the word at IAC
Last Tuesday, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the U.S. launch of “From the Bridge: A View of Irish Traditional Music in New York,” the Iri...
IMI: local in plan, global in scope IMI: local in plan, global in scope
First off, congrats to We Banjo 3’s Enda Scahill for being one of the 2022 winners of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize! Launched in 2010 by actor/comed...
Dunne's 'Tides' is outstanding album of new songs Dunne's 'Tides' is outstanding album of new songs
Readers, I’ve had Niamh Dunne’s new solo album “Tides” in my media player this week, and if it’s something new-fangled and cool that you’re after a...
Ennis was Lomax's entrée in Ireland Ennis was Lomax's entrée in Ireland
A little while back, I received a parcel from the Irish Traditional Music Archive that contained, among other things, a handsomely presented two CD...
'Cry of a People Gone' is brilliant, amazing and substantial 'Cry of a People Gone' is brilliant, amazing and substantial
A quite remarkable book recently came my way called “Cry of a People Gone: Irish Musicians in Chicago 1920-2020” by Richie Piggott. The result of “...

 

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