Dónal O'Connor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dónal O'Connor
Dónal O'Connor
Background information
Birth name	Dónal O'Connor
Born	Ravensdale, County Louth, Ireland
Genres	Irish traditional Folk Celtic music
Occupation(s)	Musician, producer, composer, Music teacher, Television presenter
Years active	1996–present
Labels	At First Light Compass Records Vertical Records
Associated acts	At First Light, Gerry O'Connor, Eithne Ní Uallacháin, Bob Brozman, Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, Len Graham

Dónal O'Connor is a talented Irish musician, producer, and television presenter. He comes from Ravensdale, a place in County Louth, Ireland. Dónal plays many instruments and has been part of well-known Irish traditional groups. These include Ulaid, At First Light, and his parents' group, Lá Lugh.

Early Life and Family

Dónal O'Connor grew up in a home where Irish was spoken. His father, Gerry O'Connor, is a famous fiddle player. His mother, Eithne Ní Uallacháin, was a singer and flute player who passed away in 1999.

Dónal's family has a strong musical background. His grandparents on his mother's side were Pádraig Ó hUallacháin, a teacher and song collector, and Eithne bean Uí Uallacháin. His grandmother on his father's side, Rose O'Connor, was also a fiddle player and teacher. Dónal is also the nephew of well-known singers Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin and Len Graham.

Dónal O'Connor's Musical Journey

Starting Out: 1996 to 2005

Dónal O'Connor's first recorded music was on the album Brighid's Kiss in 1996. This album was by Lá Lugh, his parents' group. Irish Music Magazine readers voted it Album of the Year that same year.

In 2001, Dónal joined other musicians like Mike McGoldrick and John McSherry. They started a group called 'At First Light'. They toured Ireland and played at big festivals like the Helsinki Folk Festival and Dranouter Folk Festival in Belgium.

Dónal also worked as a producer. In 2001, he produced Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin's album Laoi Faoi. This album was nominated for a special song contest. In 2003, Dónal played on the album New Irish Hymns with artists like Moya Brennan. He also presented a radio show called Cualán on BBC Radio Ulster.

Dónal helped with the music for the 2003 film, The Boys and Girl from County Clare. This movie starred Andrea Corr and Colm Meaney.

In 2004, Dónal performed on TV shows like RTÉ's The Raw Bar and TG4's Geantraí. He also appeared on a TG4 show called Sé Mo Laoch, which focused on his grandmother, Rose O'Connor. Dónal played on Brian Kennedy's 2004 album On Song. He also co-produced and played on his father Gerry O'Connor's album Journeyman.

New Projects: 2006 to 2010

In April 2006, Dónal released Tripswitch with uilleann piper John McSherry. This album mixed Irish, Celtic, and Celtiberian music styles. Critics really liked Tripswitch, giving it good reviews in magazines like The Irish Times and Songlines. Dónal and John named their touring band At First Light. They performed on TV and radio to promote the album.

In 2006, Dónal presented a 10-part music series on BBC2 called An Stuif Ceart. He also composed short musical pieces for BBC Radio Ulster in 2008. Dónal toured a lot, playing at festivals like Temple Bar TradFest.

In 2009, At First Light played at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow and the World Folk Cultures Festival in Taiwan. In 2010, Dónal released Six Days in Down with John McSherry and American guitarist Bob Brozman. They talked about the album on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction. The group toured the UK and Ireland to promote the album. Dónal co-produced Six Days in Down, which also featured singer Stephanie Makem.

Recent Work: 2011 to Present

In 2011, Louth County Council asked Dónal to create a suite of music called Gort na Glaise. He performed this music with other musicians. That same year, The Armagh Pipers Club asked Dónal to arrange traditional tunes for an Uilleann pipe orchestra of 45 players. These arrangements were performed at a festival and recorded. Dónal received a similar request in 2012.

Dónal produced and played on Belfast singer Gráinne Holland's first album, Teanga na nGael, released in August 2011. In late 2011, his band At First Light released their debut album, Idir. The group toured all over Europe to promote it, including their third appearance at the Celtic Connections festival. Idir was released in the United States in 2012.

In August 2012, Dónal produced Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin's album LET THE FAIRIES IN. He also composed the music for a film called Shalom – Belfast, which was shown on Israel's Channel 8. Dónal and John McSherry perform every year at The Soma Festival in Castlewellan, County Down.

In 2015, Dónal joined John McSherry and Sean Óg Graham from Beoga to record Ulaid. This trio has toured a lot and worked with other great musicians like Mary Dillon and Liam Ó Maonlaí.

In 2017, Ulaid teamed up with Belfast singer Duke Special to record a live album called 'A Note Let Go'. This album tells the story of Belfast through songs.

Dónal O'Connor continues to produce music from his Redbox recording Studios in Belfast. He also works as a producer and music supervisor for traditional music shows on TV channels like RTE, TG4, BBC NI, and BBC Alba.

Discography

Albums

• 2017 – A Note Let Go (Ulaid & Duke Special)
• 2015 – Ulaid – (John McSherry, Dónal O'Connor & Seán Óg Graham)
• 2012 – Idir (At First Light)
• 2011 – Gort na Glaise Dónal O'Connor
• 2008 – Six Days in Down (with Bob Brozman and John McSherry)
• 2006 – Tripswitch (John McSherry & Dónal O'Connor)

Other Contributions

Recording/Mixing

• 2011 – Réalta – Open the Door for Three
• 2012 – The Olllam
• 2012 – Oirialla
• 2013 – Ronan Le Bars Group – Lammadour
• 2016 – Ronan Le Bars Group – An Erc'h Kentañ – The first snow (Coop Breizh)
• 2018 – Stevie Dunne – Live at the Crosskeys
• 2018 – Music in the Glen
• 2019 – The Blackwater Céilí Band – Music in the Valley
• 2019 – Joshua Burnside – Live at the Elmwood Hall
• 2019 – Bene + Cormac – Wavelength
• 2020 – Ronan le Bars – Strink Mor