Martin Hayes (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Hayes
Hayes in 2008
Background information
Born	(1962-07-04) 4 July 1962 (age 62)
Origin	County Clare, Ireland
Genres	Traditional Irish
Instruments	Fiddle
Years active	1980s–present
Labels	Green Linnet, Real World
Associated acts	Dennis Cahill P. J. Hayes The Gloaming Martin Hayes Quartet
Parent(s)	P. J. Hayes Peggy Hayes

Martin Hayes (born 4 July 1962) is a famous Irish fiddler from County Clare. He is known for his unique style of playing traditional Irish music. Martin is also a member of the popular Irish-American supergroup called The Gloaming.

Growing Up with Music

Martin Hayes was born into a very musical family. His home was in Maghera, a small area in East County Clare, Ireland. His father, P.J. Hayes, was a well-known fiddle player. Martin's grandmother also played the concertina, another traditional instrument.

His father and his uncle, Paddy Canny, were both great fiddlers. They even helped start the Tulla Céilí Band in 1946. A céilí band plays lively Irish dance music. P.J. Hayes led this band for many years, from 1952 until he passed away in 2001.

Martin started learning the fiddle when he was just seven years old. His father was his first teacher. By the age of 13, Martin had already won his first All-Ireland Fiddle Competition. He went on to win this competition six times! He is one of only three fiddlers ever to win the senior division two years in a row (1981 and 1982). As a teenager, he joined the Tulla Céilí Band and played with them for seven years.

Martin's Musical Journey

Early Career Adventures

In 1985, Martin Hayes moved to Chicago in the United States. There, he became a big part of the Irish traditional music scene. He often played at weekly jam sessions with other musicians, including Chicago fiddler Liz Carroll. She once said that Martin's playing was "perfect."

To earn a living, Martin played in different kinds of bands. He played traditional Irish music, but also other styles. In the late 1980s, he led a band called the "Celtic Aires." From 1989 to 1992, he teamed up with guitarist Dennis Cahill to form "Midnight Court." This band mixed traditional Irish music with rock music. In 1993, Martin moved to Seattle, where he lived until 2005.

Martin started recording his own music in 1993. His first album was called Martin Hayes. For his second album, Under the Moon (1995), his father P.J. Hayes also played the fiddle.

Collaborations and New Sounds

In 1996, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill formed an acoustic duo. They created a special, calm, and expressive way of playing traditional Irish music. A reviewer from New York Times once said their music was like "stripping old reels and jigs to their essence." This means they played the tunes in a very pure and simple way. Hayes and Cahill released several albums together, including The Lonesome Touch (1997) and Welcome Here Again (2008).

Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill also became part of The Gloaming. This is a very popular Irish-American supergroup. Other members include singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and pianist Doveman. Their first album came out in 2014 and won an award for the best Irish album of the year.

Martin also plays with other groups. He performs with Peadar Ó Riada and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh as "Tríur." He has also toured with Kevin Crawford and John Doyle as The Teetotalers. He was also a member of the Martin Hayes Quartet.

Martin has appeared on many albums with other musicians. These include CDs by Christy McNamara and Mary MacNamara. He still plays regularly with The Tulla Céilí Band, the band his father helped start. Since 2003, Martin has been the musical director of the Masters of Tradition festival. This festival happens every summer in Bantry House in Bantry, County Cork.

Since 2019, Martin has performed with the Common Ground Ensemble. This group includes Cormac McCarthy on piano and Kate Ellis on cello. In 2023, they released an album called Peggy's Dream.

Awards and Recognition

Martin Hayes has received many awards for his music. In 2000, he won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Instrumentalist of the Year. In 2008, he received the TG4 Gradam Ceoil. This award is given to the Traditional Musician of the Year in Ireland. In 2019, he was given an honorary doctorate by the National University of Ireland Galway. This is a special award that recognizes his great achievements.

Discography

Here are some of Martin Hayes's main albums:

With P. J. Hayes

• The Shores of Lough Graney (1990)

Martin Hayes albums

• Martin Hayes (1992)
• Under the Moon (1995)

Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill albums

• The Lonesome Touch (1997)
• Live in Seattle (1999)
• Welcome Here Again (2008)

Martin Hayes Quartet

• The Blue Room (2017)

Martin Hayes & The Common Ground Ensemble

• Peggy's Dream (2023)

As a member of the Tulla Céilí Band

• A Celebration of 50 Years (1996)
• 60th Anniversary Celebration (2007)

With The Gloaming

• The Gloaming (2014)
• 2 (2016)
• Live at the NCH (2018)
• 3 (2019)