A native of Mayo ,Kathy is a freelance choral director and orchestral conductor. From a very young age, she has been immersed in music, both teaching and as an accompanist. Kathy presently works with several choirs across Mayo, and is also conductor of Mayo Concert Orchestra. Her childhood was spent listening to and, as an accomplished pianist under the tutelage of Dolores Quinn, playing classical music, and she developed a great interest in this genre. When she was 18, Kathy performed Handel’s Messiah as part of Maynooth College Choral Society where she was studying, and in 2013, she co-directed alongside Dr. Kevin O’Carroll, a full performance of Messiah in Castlebar Holy Rosary Church for the first time. She recruited and trained a 100-strong mixed choir to sing the beautiful Oratorio with orchestral accompaniment, raising over €50,000 for charity in the process. Subsequently, sacred works are performed biannually in the county town under her baton, collaborating Vocalessence Ladies Choir with Mayo Concert Orchestra. Her most recent appointment is as Director of Gardiner Street Gospel Choir Dublin.

Kathy is also a lover of Gospel music, having trained the multi awarded Chapel Street Gospel Choir since 2010. She has a particular appreciation for traditional African American gospel and its historic significance, as well as the more modern gospel spirituals.

Campanology is also an art that Kathy has experimented with, having trained in Philadelphia and London. She travelled throughout Ireland and further, teaching first and second level students the unique craft. She has toured UK, France, Germany, Italy and USA, with choirs, handbell teams and orchestras, and at home in Ireland associating with some of the country’s most illustrious artists.

The genesis of Fainne Oir was serendipitous in many ways, but Kathy created the storyline with a clear vision as to how she wanted it to evolve. She composed the music to coincide with the narrative and felt contemporary dance, layered with textures of irish, would be a new and distinctive combination in portraying this emotive tale of love, loss, poverty, loyalty and emigration, set during the Irish Famine.

After touring Fainne Oir in 2019 with a cast of 50, Kathy is delighted to have the opportunity to join forces with Ciara Sexton as Director & Choreographer, in producing something truly incredible.

Ciara is an Irish dancing professional who possesses multiple skills as a dancer, choreographer, lecturer, television announcer and presenter for major shows and events throughout the world. She is a five-time World & All-Ireland Champion and has starred as lead dancer in Riverdance, Heartbeat of Home and in both Lord of the Dance and Lord of the Dance 3D, alongside Michael Flatley, released in cinemas worldwide.

Ciara is proud to be a Senior Editor for The Irish Dancing Magazine. In 2016, she gained a social media degree from the University of Washington and two diplomas in Public and Motivational speaking. After producing, directing and choreographing her first commercial Irish Dance show ‘The Celtic Gift’ in 2017, In 2019 Ciara directed, choreographed & starred in a brand new production, Fainne Oir. It premiered to sold out crowds in Ireland & later on Broadway in New York City.

Ciara has been a lecturer at The Irish World Academy at The University of Limerick since 2014, and takes pride in her job of lecturing in performance dance alongside some of the best names in the industry. Ciara is a qualified TCRG registered with CLRG, and teaches for Scoil Uí Nualláin alongside her Fiancé, Cian Nolan in Limerick City. Since gaining her multiple qualifications for motivational & public speaking, Ciara is currently studying for her fifth diploma in Life Coaching, specialising in aiding creative professionals around the globe. Helping, inspiring and motivating the next generation is Ciara’s passion, priority and purpose.

Michael Fay has a B.A. in Music from NUI Maynooth as well as a B.A. in Jazz Piano

Performance from Newpark Music Centre (now DCU Jazz). He is currently musical director for the Maynooth Gospel Choir, Bray Gospel Choir and Clane Musical Society amongst others. He has worked with acts such as Jack L, The Magic Tenors and Celtic Nights in various capacities and tours, including a stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Michael is looking forward to being part of a this new and original venture.

Dave is a graduate of NUI Maynooth, where he received a BMus and a MA in Music (composition). A multi-instrumentalist he plays Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute and Piano.

Dave has been the conductor, musical director and arranger for several original productions including Are Ya Dancin’ – A Showband Story (musical director/arranger), Fáinne Óir (musical director / orchestrator) and Goodnight Mr. Tom: The Musical (musical director / co-orchestrator)

Dave has played and conducted in the orchestra pits of some of Ireland’s best known theatres, including the BGET, the Gaiety Theatre, the Olympia Theatre, the 3 Arena and the National Concert Hall. He has played all over Asia, Europe and America as the saxophonist with Riverdance, as well as featuring in the DVD “Riverdance: Live in Beijing”. He has performed as both a saxophonist and keyboard player with the National Symphony Orchestra and the RTE Concert Orchestra, and has played with artists such as Michael Giacchino, Colm Wilkinson and Rebecca Storm. He has performed on TV shows such as Up For The Match and Dancing with the Stars (RTE).

Dave is a graduate of NUI Maynooth, where he received a BMus and a MA in Music (composition). A multi-instrumentalist he plays Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute and Piano.

Dave has been the conductor, musical director and arranger for several original productions including Are Ya Dancin’ – A Showband Story (musical director/arranger), Fáinne Óir (musical director / orchestrator) and Goodnight Mr. Tom: The Musical (musical director / co-orchestrator)

Dave has played and conducted in the orchestra pits of some of Ireland’s best known theatres, including the BGET, the Gaiety Theatre, the Olympia Theatre, the 3 Arena and the National Concert Hall. He has played all over Asia, Europe and America as the saxophonist with Riverdance, as well as featuring in the DVD “Riverdance: Live in Beijing”. He has performed as both a saxophonist and keyboard player with the National Symphony Orchestra and the RTE Concert Orchestra, and has played with artists such as Michael Giacchino, Colm Wilkinson and Rebecca Storm. He has performed on TV shows such as Up For The Match and Dancing with the Stars (RTE).

Caoimhe Ennis from Dublin began her training at the age of four with the Clarke School of Irish Dancing. The school has since evolved to become the Ennis & Clarke Goodman Academy where she is an active TCRG. Throughout her enjoyable competitive career, she achieved numerous Championship titles at both local and provincial level including the well acclaimed World Championship, for which she attained six titles.

Caoimhe attended the Billie Barry Stage School from the age of four where she spent many happy years. She was afforded the opportunity of performing in The Gaiety Theatre in several pantomimes as well as ‘Carousel’ with the Rathmines Rathgar Musical Society and a ‘Hallelujah Production’ in the Royal Albert Hall London. She went on to train at The Institute of the Arts Barcelona and earned a BA in Dance and Theatre Studies. After completing her degree, she then joined the cast in Disneyland Paris as character and parade performer. Following this contract, she performed with Riverdance in Croke Park during the Pope’s visit in 2017. She was then fortunate to join the cast of Fainne Óir which premiered both in Ireland and Broadway. Caoimhe has always been inspired by Ériu and the many significant works that they have produced. She was delighted to make her debut in their most recent production ‘The House of Bernardo Alba’.

In 2022 Caoimhe completed an MA in Irish Traditional Dance Performance at the University of Limerick. She was delighted to take on the MA in Ethnochoreology to further explore and develop her practice.

Caoimhe is thrilled to be returning to Fainne Óir embarking on this extraordinary journey in her new role within the production.