Daniel Neely

Daniel T. Neely is a musician and ethnomusicologist (New York University, Ph.D. 2008) with specialties in the musics of Ireland and Jamaica. Since 2008 he has been the Public Relations Officer of the Mid-Atlantic Region of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s North American Province, from 2011-2016 he was the artistic coordinator of the Augusta Irish Week, a Irish music camp in Elkins, West Virginia, and since 2021 he has been on the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee-based Ward Irish Music Archives, the largest public repository for Irish music in the United States.

He plays tenor banjo and fiddle, loves playing at sessions, and has been a member of both the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra and the New York Céilí Band.  He has given invited lectures on this history of Irish music at Boston College, the Catskills Irish Arts Week, the Ward Irish Music Archives, Na Píobairí Uilleann in Dublin, Ireland, and elsewhere.

Latest Stories

Cullinan's playing is sublime Cullinan's playing is sublime
Well, folks, here we are — it’s only the middle of January and I have an absolute gem in the media yoke that I’m excited to tell you about. “Here I...
Hanley elevates trad singing Hanley elevates trad singing
Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s to a fulfilling and enjoyable year for all. In the media yoke this week is “Paint This Life,” the upcoming release...
Goff performs in SNL's 50th
Culture
Goff performs in SNL's 50th
I’ll start this end-of-year column by extending the warmest of congratulations to the great Ivan Goff, who performed with hit indie artist Hozier o...
Mayo's Munnelly is in the vanguard of box players Mayo's Munnelly is in the vanguard of box players
Season’s greetings, all! A couple excellent albums to report on this week in the lead up to Christmas. The first in the media yoke is David Munnell...
Quinn album packs a punch Quinn album packs a punch
In the media yoke this week is “Fleadh Town,” the newest album from bodhrán player Damien Quinn. “Fleadh Town” grew out of a performance and has be...
A couple of crowdpleaser ideas for the Christmas trad gift list A couple of crowdpleaser ideas for the Christmas trad gift list
Are we ready for the holiday season, folks? Because from here on out it’s the time you’ll have sounds to hear and choose from, and you might just f...
OD3 delivers at highest level OD3 delivers at highest level
Last weekend I was down at the Baltimore Irish Tenor Banjo Summit doing a little speaking thing on the Flanagan Brothers, a family of traditional m...
High-level album from top trio High-level album from top trio
Fiddle, box, and piano is a classic instrumental grouping. For me, the die for this array was cast in the 1960s, when Andy McGann, Joe Burke and Fe...
Mercy Center fundraiser on Nov. 16 to recall Moloney Mercy Center fundraiser on Nov. 16 to recall Moloney
For more than a decade, Donie Carroll, one of New York City’s great musical fixtures, has organized an annual fundraising concert in support of Mer...
Boclés' album shows uilleann possibilities Boclés' album shows uilleann possibilities
A bit of a trad-adjacent column this week! First bit of news is the announcement that the Cork International Choral Festival’s 2025 Seán Ó Riada Co...
Great follow-up from superb duo Great follow-up from superb duo
Lots of great music out there these days which means I’ve got some great stuff to look forward to writing about and this week is no exception. In t...
MIller's new show from the Twin Cities is a great listen MIller's new show from the Twin Cities is a great listen
This week I’ll lead with a mighty congratulations to Fiona Ritchie, who at the end of last month stepped away from “The Thistle & Shamrock,” the NP...

 

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