October 27-31, 2026

In Memory of Brendan and Martin Mulvihill

Brendan and Martin understood that traditional music is more than melody; it is the breath of a place, the echo of its people. Their lives were a testament to this truth. As sons of West Limerick, they carried its tunes in their bones—and when they crossed the ocean to America, they carried the spirit of the Shannon with them.

Their emigration did not mark a departure, but a widening of the circle. From concert halls to kitchen sessions, from classrooms to quiet moments of sharing, they passed on the music of Glin with reverence and joy. In their hands, the old tunes found new life—played, taught, composed, remembered.

Martin, a master fiddler and deeply respected teacher, was a cornerstone of this tradition—his playing rooted in the lyrical, unhurried style of West Limerick, and his life’s work devoted to passing that music faithfully from one generation to the next.

Brendan, a masterful composer and gifted teacher, saw music as a living bridge between past and present, land and longing. He delved into the airs and dances of West Limerick, the ancient strains of O’Carolan, the songs his father once played—and gave them back to the world with grace and brilliance.

This week is a homecoming—not just to a place, but to a tradition. It invites all who gather to listen, to learn, and to celebrate the music that shaped two remarkable lives, and continues to ripple out, like the river itself, across time and tide. The goal is for this week to continue annually to ensure that musicians can share the legacy of Brendan and Martin Mulvihill for generations to come.