Niall Vallely

Niall Vallely was born in Armagh in 1970 and began learning the concertina at the age of seven from his parents Brian and Eithne Vallely, founders of the Armagh Pipers’ Club. Over the years he has developed a unique approach to playing the instrument and has established himself worldwide as one of Ireland’s most significant musicians. A resident of Cork since 1988, Niall completed a degree in music at University College Cork in 1992. He has recorded two albums with Nomos, a solo album, Beyond Words, and a duet album with his brother Cillian, as well as two albums with his newest band Buille. Since 2000 Niall has been touring and recording as part of the Karan Casey Band as well as being involved in projects with the likes of Tim O’Brien, Paddy Keenan, Mel Mercier and Asturian band Tejedor. Over the past number of years Niall has also established himself as an accomplished record producer working with acts such as Karan Casey, North Cregg, Barry Kerr and Caoimhín Vallely.

Since the early 1990s Niall has been composing traditional-style tunes on his own albums and for leading acts such as Lunasa, KAN, Michael McGoldrick, John Mc Cusker, Allan Kelly and Scottish acts the Poozies, Daimh, Niteworks, Skerryvore, The Outside Track, Gabe McVarish and Duncan Chisholm with some tunes becoming standards in sessions throughout the world. He has received commissions from RTE LyricFM, BBC, TG4, Cork Opera House, Crash Ensemble and University College Cork and has had his works broadcast on radio in Ireland and throughout Europe.

Niall has just completed a year as Traditional Artist in Residence at University College Cork and has recently published a book of his tune compositions “Malfunction Junction – 101 Tunes.” He has released new albums with Buille and the Irish/Scottish/Scandinavian collective, The Secret North, as well as a new commission for the Vanbrugh String Quartet.