Aimée Farrell Courtney’s dynamic playing ranges from her renowned sensitive style of accompaniment to electrifying rhythmic solos and duets. Since her win at The World Bodhrán Championship, she has gone on to perform with Irish folk luminaries such as Dónal Lunny, Andy Irvine and Liam O’Flynn, tour with bands such as Danú, CARA and Emma Langford, performing in venues such as The 3 Arena (Dublin) and The Royal Albert Hall (London). She is now on the road to discover the possibilities of the bodhrán in other music collaborating with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts to name but a few.

Aimée’s love of music is evident in her teaching. In 2012, she devised a music education programme for primary school level and more recently founded TradDRUM, a global bodhrán community providing positive experiences in music through education and events. She has acted as tutor and lecturer in Maynooth University, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Champlain College, World Academy of Irish Music and Dance University of Limerick and Newcastle University (U.K.).

Aimée holds a Bachelor of Music degree specialising in Irish Traditional Music and a Master in Music specialising in Performance from TUDublin Conservatory of Music and Drama. Graduating with First Class Honours, Aimée was also awarded the Leo Rowsome Gold Medal for Outstanding Traditional Performance and the Michael McNamara Gold Medal for Outstanding Overall Performance. She is also a trained Sound Therapist currently working in therapeutic settings across Ireland. Website: http://www.aimeefarrellcourtney.com/

Niamh Fennell is from Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, coming from a musical family which is rather active in the local music scene.

She is a primary school teacher and has great enthusiasm and love for the Bodhrán.  She started playing Bodhrán at aged sixteen and was greatly influenced by the playing of Martin O’Neill, Colm Phelan, Donnachadh Gough and many more.

In 2018, Niamh was successful in winning the Munster and All Ireland Fleadh competition.  Niamh has been teaching the bodhrán for many years and is delighted to be teaching at Craiceann 2025. 

”Niamh’s style is subtle and sympathetic to the music and is traditionally based with adequate amounts of technique used where appropriate”. -Junior Davey

Rolf Wagels from Hanover, Germany, has been playing bodhrán since 1993 and was for many years part of the acclaimed band Cara. He has performed all over Europe and toured the USA regularly, appearing at major festivals such as Milwaukee Irish Fest, Kansas City Irish Fest, Chicago Celtic Fest and many more. Cara received the Irish Music Awards for “Best New Irish Artist 2009” and “Top Group 2010”, and in 2018 the group won the renowned German award “Freiburger Leiter”. Over the years Rolf has contributed to around 30 recordings.

Rolf has been teaching workshops across Germany and Europe since 1996. Since 2001 he has developed and led the BodhránWeekends in Germany, and since 2008 also in Switzerland, which have become established fixtures in the European bodhrán scene. From 2005 to 2023 he was not only a tutor but also part of the organising team of Craiceann, helping to shape its profile as the leading international event for the instrument. After a three-year break he is delighted to return to Craiceann and reconnect with the community of players and students.

Rolf has appeared in a TG4 documentary on bodhrán maker Seamus O’Kane and was invited to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to present the bodhrán in both lecture and workshop. Together with drum maker Christian Hedwitschak he developed his own line of drums, and in 2011 he released his well-received solo CD “Bodhrán Insight”, which focuses on the musical range of the instrument.

Since 2005 he has run an online shop via his website, which has grown into the world’s leading address for high-quality bodhráns and accessories. In addition, the site offers in-depth information on the history, development and construction of the bodhrán.

Portlaoise-born Colm has been playing the Bodhrán since childhood. He is a winner of numerous medals down through the years with his proudest achievements being the first ever World Bodhran Champion, in Miltown, Co Kerry in 2006, and in the same year winning the All Ireland in Letterkenny for the second year in succession. This back-to-back achievement was closely echoed in his unique multiple Ceili Band drum competition successes.

Colm graduated with a BA in Irish Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick in 2011 and in MA in Irish Music performance in 2016.

In 2012, Colm released his solo CD “Full Cirlce” which was described has having “thrills and spills by the dozen and is a roller coaster ride of jaw dropping and breath-taking proportions, clearly going where no bodhrán player has gone before” – John O’Regan, Irish Music Magazine.

He is one of the most sought after Bodhran tutors in Irish Music. His teaching ability has seen him lead Bodhrán workshops in France, Germany, Finland, Holland, UK, Italy, USA, at Junior Daveys Bodhran School in Sligo and at 'Craiceann'. In 2016,Colm co-founded the International Bodhrán school "Búla Buzz" alongside Robbie Walsh.

Kieran is an Irish drummer, percussionist and bodhrán specialist currently working between Ireland, London and the USA.

As a member of the Grammy nominated, PBS Special featured group ‘Celtic Woman’. He has completed multiple USA tours, as well as other regions including South America and Europe and has just returned from Celtic Woman’s 20th Anniversary 79 date tour of North America. Post Covid, in 2023, Kieran joined the grammy winning group ‘Clannad’ for their Farewell tour finishing in the sold out 3Arena Dublin. 

Educated at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, London, Kieran is still very active on the both the Irish & UK orchestral scene as a percussionist, timpanist and drummer working regularly with English National Opera and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Other orchestral engagements include the Ulster Orchestra (Guest Principal Timpani & Percussion + Drum Kit), RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (Guest Principal Timpani), RTÉ Concert Orchestra (Percussion & Drum Kit) and the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Huntsville-based bodhrán player Andy Kruspe has performed and recorded with several muscians and bands throughout the Southeastern United States. His playing has supported bands in several genres, including Irish Traditional, Celtic, Old Time, and Contra Dance Bands.

Andy is also active as a teacher, having presented workshops at several universities, clinics, and festivals. In addition to his love of performance, Andy is also passionate about the academic side, he co-presented a session on the bodhrán at the 2013 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), has taught many workshops and clinics at several universities and colleges, and has published a comprehensive method, The Bodhrán Primer. He finished his second book, Playing the Tune (a method of techniques for accompanying Irish traditional tunes), in summer of 2015 and his third book (First Steps) aimed at beginners in 2017.
Andrew holds a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degree.

His bodhran playing is full of baselines and very supportive for the tunes. No wonder he is in high demand as a live and studio artist.

Jim hails from Renmore in Galway. Born into a musical family, he went on to study music in University College Cork under Micheal O Suilleabhain amongst others. While in Cork, Jim caught ‘the bodhran bug’, playing alongside players such as Mel Mercier, Colm Murphy and Frank Torpey. He went on to play drums with fellow Galwegians ‘The Sawdoctors’ following a four year stint with ‘The Riverdance Show’ which took him around the world.

He is an honorary member of the Donegal based traditional group ‘Altan’ having recorded and toured extensively with them for the last fifteen years from the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House.

He has recorded and performed with such luminaries as Paul Brady, Christy Moore, Liam O’Flynn, Donal Lunny, Bill Whelan, Martin O’Connor and Lunasa.

Paul McClure is an award-winning bodhrán player, composer, and educator whose dynamic style and musical versatility have made him one of the most sought-after Bodhrán players today. A native of Buncrana, Co. Donegal, Paul is a multiple All-Ireland champion on both bodhrán and piano accordion, achievements that firmly established him early on as a standout talent.

As a performer, Paul has toured extensively across Europe, appearing at some of the most prestigious festivals on the circuit. His expressive playing has been heard at Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Festival de Ortigueira, and Celtic Connections, alongside many others.

In high demand as a teacher, Paul is a regular instructor at festivals throughout both Europe and the United States, as well as having been invited to teach a masterclass at the University of Limerick, where his clarity, technique-focused approach, and thoughtful musicianship have earned him a reputation as one of the leading teachers today.

Through his Patreon, he has built a thriving learning community, offering detailed tutorials, technique breakdowns, practice guidance, and musical insights to players worldwide — making high-quality bodhrán education accessible wherever they are.

His musicianship extends into composing, arranging, and recording across multiple genres — in demand for recording work Paul has recorded and arranged on dozens of albums and projects, from traditional Irish and Scottish folk to more contemporary and even electronic works.
Combining technical excellence, musical curiosity, and a passion for teaching, Paul strives to promote, educate, and elevate the Bodhrán.