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Paddy Callaghan is a multi-instrumentalist from Glasgow, Scotland. In common with many from the West of Scotland, Paddy has family origins in Ireland- the Tyrone/Derry & Donegal regions in particular. Graduating from his musical education with St. Roch's Ceili Band and the Irish Minstrels Branch of Comhaltas under the legendary Frank McArdle, Paddy has gone on to take his unique musical style worldwide.



Initially Paddy started on the tin-whistle but before long had progressed to the Button Accordion. A few years later he started learning the harp and in his teens, took up the concertina. Although thoroughly accomplished on all these instruments, it is without doubt the Button Accordion to which Paddy is a master.

 

With his energetic style and effortless delivery of complex melodies Paddy has amassed a fanbase across the globe and is in extremely high demand as a touring musician.

 

Paddy performs regularly with his own trio - The Paddy Callaghan Trio, he also performs as a solo musician and has various other projects including his Big-Band, DJ'ing Trisco's (Trad Disco's) and also playing in bands alongside other musicians

Awards

BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2013.​

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Paddy has won countless titles in the past 24 years through Comhaltas Fleadhanna Cheoil, at Regional and Provincial level, and several World titles including winning Senior Grupai Cheoil competition in both 2007 and 2017.



Danny Kyle Open Stage Winner at Celtic Connections Festival 2007 as part of 'Feolta'.

 

Scot's Trad Music Awards 2013 Nominee for category: Trad Music in the Media for Radio Show Trad with Pad

 

Scot's Trad Music Awards 2014 Nominee for category: Up And Coming Band of the Year with Dallahan

 

Scot's Trad Music Awards 2016 Nominee for Category: Album of the Year with Dallahan

Biography
Festivals which Paddy has Performed in

Festivals in Scotland:

Celtic Connections Festival 

Stonehaven Folk Festival 

Shetland Folk Festival 

Orkney Folk Festival 

Jura Folk Festival 

Moniaive Folk Festival

Perthshire Amber Festival 

Royal Highland Show 

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 

Glasgow St. Patrick’s Festival 

Heb Celt Fest 

Wickerman Festival

Solas Festival

Northern Roots Festival

Eigg Liberation Festival

Brew at the Bog Festival

Merchant City Music Festival

Kelburn Garden Party

World Irish Dancing Championships

Scottish International Whisky Festival

2014 Commonwealth Games

 

Festivals in The United States of America (USA):

Milwaukee Irish Fest (Wisconsin)

Great American Irish Fest (New York)

North Texas Irish Festival (Texas)

La Crosse Irish Festival (Wisconsin)

 

Festivals in England:

Hartlepool Folk Festival 

Liverpool Irish Festival

Leeds Irish Festival 

Trip to Birmingham Trad Festival 

 

Festivals in Ireland:

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann

Pan Celtic Festival

Armagh Pipers Festival 

Aras Aris Festival 

 

Festivals in Other Countries/Territories:

BESTIVAL (Isle of Wight)

Sark Folk Festival (Isle of Sark)

Windross Festival (Germany)

Copenhagen Irish Festival (Denmark)

Fire in the Mountain Festival (Wales)

EIRE la Celtic Festival (Italy)

Geiteberg Folk Festival (Norway)

Tours which Paddy has Performed in

TMSA Young Trad Tour 2013

(Scotland)

 

TMSA Young Trad Tour 2014

(Scotland)

 

Danish Spring Tour 2015

(Denmark)

 

North American Tour 2015

(Maine, Wisconsin & New York in USA & Ontario Canada)

 

Highland Blast 2015

(Germany) 

 

Danish Spring Tour 2016

(Denmark)

 

U.K. Tour 2016

(Scotland, England & Wales)

 

North American Tour 2016

(New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts & Wisconsin in USA)

 

National Folk Orchestra of Ireland Tour 2016

(Ireland)

 

North American Spring Tour 2017

(Texas, New Mexico, Colodado, Utah, Indiana, Oregon & Washington in USA)

 

North American Autumn Tour 2017

(Maryland, Virginia & Maine in USA)

 

Young Trad Award Tour 2018

(Germany)

Multiple Broadcasters

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony (Worldwide)

 

Multiple Broadcasters

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony (Worldwide)

 

BBC One

Songs of Praise (U.K.)

 

BBC ALBA

Cèilidh na Bliadhn’ Ùire (Hogmanay live broadcast) (U.K.) 

 

BBC ALBA

Hebridean Celtic Festival

 

BBC ALBA

BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2013 (U.K) 

 

STV

‘The Hour’ (Scotland)

 

RTE One

State Centenary Commemoration of the 1916 Rising with the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland (Ireland)

 

TG4

Gradam Cheoil 2017 (Ireland)

Notable Television Appearances
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