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

Outstanding offering from Tennessee-based fiddlers Outstanding offering from Tennessee-based fiddlers
I want to lead this week’s column with the heartiest congratulations to the great flute maker Patrick Olwell, who has just been awarded the prestig...
'Northern Shores,' by Diamond and Miller, is a fabulous album 'Northern Shores,' by Diamond and Miller, is a fabulous album
First off, congratulations all around to everyone who took part in last weekend’s Mid-Atlantic Fleadh! Social media was abuzz and framed it as a ro...
Boston has top-notch events Boston has top-notch events
Published in the April 8-14, 2026 issue of the Irish Echo. Boston has very much an embarrassment of traditional music riches these days. Sometimes ...
Yeates eulogizes Weldon, Keane Yeates eulogizes Weldon, Keane
On Friday, the Folk Music Society of New York presented Dublin-based singer Macdara Yeates at the St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church as ...
Relive trad craic on high seas! Relive trad craic on high seas!
It seems that special things happen every March as the wave of the St. Patrick Day season crashes over us. One of them is that this year’s TG4’s pr...
Hayes, Altan are season highlights Hayes, Altan are season highlights
Folks, I caught word this week that registration for the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh is now open! The Mid-Atlantic is one of North America’s two qualifying...
Banjoists find common ground Banjoists find common ground
Was out to see Lúnasa last week at a packed Sony Hall in Times Square and it was a tremendous evening. One of the greatest traditional groups of al...
Curley & McKee have incredible rapport Curley & McKee have incredible rapport
Folks, the freight train of tour dates to report keeps rolling along! This time it’s about Dublin tenor Paul Byrom, who you may remember as an orig...
An Gaodhal Project is launched An Gaodhal Project is launched
Was over at the Irish Consulate this past week for a networking event and was very pleased to hear Dennis Brownlee, founder and president of the Af...
Sony Hall has big series in store Sony Hall has big series in store
Folks! Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s Mid-Atlantic region has recently announced that the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Fleadh will take place April 17-19 at th...
McEvoys' album is a loving expression of Meath tradition McEvoys' album is a loving expression of Meath tradition
I have a real treat in the media yoke this week! “The Boyne Mist” is the new release from John and Jacinta McEvoy and it’s the most delightful reco...
 Life story that's complex, nuanced Life story that's complex, nuanced
Lots to write about this week! First off, I want to congratulate Caitríona Fee (concertina) and Colin Kadis (accordion), the two yanks who were amo...





 



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