About Doimnic

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Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde is a singer, composer, teacher and researcher of sean-nós singing, and an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. A native Irish speaker from the Donegal Gaeltacht, he began singing at an early age, and has gone on to achieve a highly acclaimed career, including winning the prestigious Corn Uí Riada competition in 2009. He has performed at numerous festivals and at venues across Ireland, the UK including:

 

The National Concert Hall, Dún Laoighre Arts Festival, Cavan Arts Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival, An Droichead’s Belfast Song Festival, Féile Imbolc, Doire, Féile an Phobaill, Béal Feirste, Titanic Centre, Béal Feirste, Féile Ealaíona an Earagail, Áras Eanna, Inis Óirr, Seamus Ennis Centre, Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow, Celtic Connections, Glasgow, Machynleth Music Festival, Wales.

 

Internationally, he has toured the USA ten times, performing at festivals (e.g. Catskills Irish Festival, Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice) and house-concerts. He has toured in Canada, France (Festival Interceltique, Lorient), Finland (Irish Festival of Oulu), Austria, and the Basque country with Scottish singer Griogair Labhraidh.

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Doimnic also plays uillean pipes, accordion, piano and harmonium, bringing unique arrangements to his singing. He has released five CDs, the latest, Sona do Cheird, winning NÓS album of the year in 2016 for his melodic compositions to ancient Gaelic poetry. His other CDs include Guaillimh a’ chéile - collaboration with Scottish Gaidhlig singer and piper Griogar Labraidh, Siansa - CD made with his choir,  Smúidghealach - CD of sean-nós songs arranged for string quintet accompaniment and Saol na Suáilce - a traditional sean-nós CD. 

 

His research and passion for sean-nós singing has culminated in his latest book which provides a groundbreaking perspective on the origins of Gaelic song and the ancient Irish Gaelic harp.

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Choir Director

He is also the director of a Gaelic choir,  Cór Thaobh a’Leithid, and has received invitations for the choir to perform at prestigious events such as St Patrick’s Day celebrations at the National Concert Hall (collaborating with Dónal Lunny), Áras an Uachtaráin in 2009, TG4 XX televised show with Liam Ó Maonlai (2016), BBC’s Ceiliúradh Féile Phádraig (2017). He also worked on arrangements with Zoe Conway and Julie Fowlis to perform with the choir at Scoil Gheimridh Ghaoth Dobhair, 2019. He was also the Director of Cór Loch Lao in Belfast for 15 years.

 

Collaborations

Other collaborations include Oran Bagraidh - a project bringing together Irish, Welsh and Scottish musicians to produce a CD which was subsequently toured across Scotland (Celtic Connections, Knockengorroch), Wales (Cardigan) and Ireland (Belfast) to critical acclaim, and Mamiath - a project involving Welsh, Scottish and Irish artists.

 

In 2013 he was selected to sing Jacques Brel songs in Gaeilge with a professional band as part of the IMRAM festival, resulting in appearances on The Pat Kenny show and TG4.

 

In 2020 he was invited to take part in a dance and song collaboration in Japan called Echoes of Calling.

 

He was selected to represent Ireland at the European Capital of Culture in Leeuwarden, Netherlands (2018). 

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He composed music for a short film called 'The Sea Inside Us', working with artist Ruth E. Lyons and Colm Hogan. The film that chronicles the human relationship to the sea through salt and the debut took place in May 2025.

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Children’s books/CDs

Dedicated to developing Gaelic language and song he has also produced three songbooks for children, Ící Pící (2010) Polcaphonc (2019) and the first ever pop-up song book in Irish Gaelic in 2023 called Preab sa Cheol.

 

Selected TV appearances

TG4 -  Oíche Chinn Bhliana 2018, Geantraí, Buaitóiri Chorn Ui Riada, Sean-nós le Síle Denvir

BBC - Blas Ceoil, Ceol Aduaidh, Trad ar Fad

 

Selected radio appearances

BBC Radio Ulster - Folk Club, The John Toal Show, Talkback

RTÉ - Pat Kenny Show, Sunday Miscellany.

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Teaching

Doimnic is a sought-after teacher and educator. He gives classes weekly at Cairde Ui Neill, Tyrone, Cultúrlann Bhéal Feirste, Cumann Culturtha Mhic Reachtain, Béal Feirste and An Crannóg, Gaoth Dobhair. He has also taught sean-nós workshops at CCÉ Toyko.

 

Doimnic has also given masterclasses at:

• Glucksmann Ireland House, New York University

• Irish Studies Faculty, University of Montana

• Celtic Studies, Madison University, Milwaukee 

• Queen’s University Belfast

• Conradh na Gailge, Glasgow

• Na Píobairí Uilleann, Dublin.

 

He has also taught at:

• Scoil Samhraidh Mhic Reachtain, Belfast

• South Sligo Summer School

• Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy 

• Gaelturas, Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Dhún na nGall.

 

Education

BMus Honours (First Class), Dublin Institute of Technology. (Dissertation on An Píobaire Mór).

MA in Music Performance, Irish World Music Centre, University of Limerick. (Dissertation on modes in Irish music).

 

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