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

Pomplas's latest is bold step Pomplas's latest is bold step
First off congratulations to everyone who went over to Belfast to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann! At the time of writing the Fleadh had n...
Coleman '44 session released Coleman '44 session released
Folks, some truly exciting news to announce in the world of traditional music! This past week, the record label Jazzology released “World Recording...
Reconnecting with N.C. roots Reconnecting with N.C. roots
In the media yoke this week is “Rule of Three,” the new album from fiddle player Maura Shawn Scanlin. Joined by John Doyle (guitar and bouzouki), D...
Smiles all around at 2026 CIAW Smiles all around at 2026 CIAW
I want to start this week by extending a massive, massive congratulations to Amy Schoch on the success of this year’s Catskill Irish Arts Week! In ...
Songs rooted in the Revolution Songs rooted in the Revolution
As we all know, 2026 is the year of the semiquincentennial of the United States. Two-hundred and fifty years is a pretty sound achievement, but the...
Masterpiece from Maine duo Masterpiece from Maine duo
This week I’ve got Caitlin Finley and Will Woodson’s newest album “Once Through the Hall” in the media player. The follow up to their 2019 “The Glo...
'Old School' has same energy with added refinement 'Old School' has same energy with added refinement
Shortly after I started on this column in 2012, I wrote about Mick Conneely and David Munnelly’s then-new album “‘Tis What It Is.” It was high ener...
Peter Street impresses with auspicious debut Peter Street impresses with auspicious debut
In the media player this week is the eponymous debut album from the band Peter Street, which is a great thing to have in it. Featuring four young, ...
Catskills excitment is growing Catskills excitment is growing
Folks, we’re a month out from the 2026 Catskills Irish Arts Week and excitement is mounting. East Durham has hosted this tremendous celebration of ...
Experience trad at its best
Culture
Experience trad at its best
With our two regional fleadhanna done and dusted, North America’s All-Ireland hopefuls are making plans to head over to Belfast from Aug. 2-9, to c...
McKenna Family members have superb rapport McKenna Family members have superb rapport
This week I’ve got “The Boys of Carrickroe” by the McKenna Family in my media yoke, and what a thing to be listening to! Hailing from Augher, Co. T...
'Keegan's Fancy' not to be missed 'Keegan's Fancy' not to be missed
I’ve got Seán Keegan and Macdara Ó Faoláin's “Keegan's Fancy: Traditional Music on the Mandola and Bouzouki,” in the media yoke this week. Keegan, ...





 



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