Sliabh Luachra Workshop with Bryan O'Leary (All Instruments) · Tralee · Oct 24, 2026

The Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival classes/workshops take place from on Saturday 24th of October at 11am. Bryan O'Leary is a leading button accordion player from Tureencahill, Gneeveguilla, County Kerry, deeply rooted in the rich Sliabh Luachra tradition. He comes from a renowned musical family—his grandfather, the late Johnny O'Leary, was a legendary accordion player celebrated for his lifetime contributions to Irish traditional music. Bryan’s style is heavily influenced by this heritage, embracing the rhythmic and melodic nuances characteristic of Sliabh Luachra music. Starting the accordion at age 10, shortly after his grandfather’s passing, Bryan quickly developed into a skilled and passionate musician. He is a well-experienced performer who plays regularly across various venues and has appeared on major stages such as the I.N.E.C in Killarney, The Button Factory in Dublin, and internationally in Sweden. Bryan has also had the honour of playing for President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin. His music has been featured on prominent Irish media outlets, including RTÉ Radio na Gaeltachta, RTÉ Radio 1, and TG4 on programmes like Oireachtas na hÉireann, The Rolling Wave, and Geántraí. Bryan’s deep understanding of the history and repertoire of Sliabh Luachra music, combined with his fine rhythmic sensibility and soaring musicality, have earned him the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Young Musician of the Year title. Beyond his performances, Bryan is recognised as a serious music historian, passionately studying and preserving his grandfather’s vast collection of tunes. This rare combination of artistry and scholarship places him in a distinctive position within the tradition, carrying forward the legacy of one of Ireland’s greatest accordion families while making his own mark on the vibrant Irish music scene.