Connla are five exciting young musicians who come from the cities of Derry and Armagh; they met while studying Irish music at Ulster University, becoming friends, playing together and forming a band which highlights their very original work while flying their traditional flag. They won three Irish and American awards for best new group, new group of the year and new artist of the year; Irish Music Magazine predicts: “Consider this your early warning system… there is something serious on the horizon and that creative storm is Connla.”

The band are vocalist and bodhran player Ciara McCafferty, acoustic guitarist Paul Starrett, flute and whistle played by Ciaran Carlin and siblings Conor and Emer Mallon–Conor plays uilleann pipes and whistles and Emer the harp. Connla present a heady mix of contemporary tunes and memorable songs, which they perform with joyous fiery energy, tenderness and superb musicianship. The self-composed reels, drifting, light-as-a-feather airs and beautiful, meaningful songs are finely fashioned with youthful enthusiasm and respectful love of Irish music.