Tara Connaghan

Tara Connaghan is a traditional fiddle player, cultural commentator and the creator and host of the podcast In Tune with Tradition – Perspectives on Session Etiquette in Irish Traditional Music.

She is best known for her work examining the unspoken social rules, cultural values and dynamics of Irish traditional music sessions, particularly in Ireland. Launched in 2025, In Tune with Tradition has become a reference point for musicians internationally, sparking thoughtful discussion around belonging, musical humility, flow and why sessions succeed, or quietly fail. The podcast has also inspired listener-led “podcast clubs” in music communities abroad.

Alongside the podcast, Tara:

- Leads an annual immersion retreat in Ireland, guiding musicians into real sessions with cultural context, care and discretion

- Gives talks on session etiquette and Irish music culture

- Works as a certified regional tour guide, specialising in Donegal’s musical, cultural and landscape heritage

First and foremost, Tara is a Donegal fiddle player with over 30 years of professional experience. She is a founding member of the acclaimed all-female ensemble SíFiddlers, has performed widely in Ireland and internationally, and appears on numerous recordings and has over 40 TV appearances.

She holds a Master’s degree in Irish Traditional Music Performance, a postgraduate qualification in Arts Administration, and is a contributing author to the ChangeMakers anthology.

At the core of her work is a simple question: how do we share traditions well, without damaging what makes them meaningful?

And One More Thing Before I Go... a little bit of fun facts!
- I built a fully functioning harp for my final year in high school!
- I studied how to make the Irish bag pipes for 3 years
- And in 2014, I took over my dad's construction company for almost 10 years after his sudden passing, being the only female in Ireland to run a construction company on her own without family members. Overseeing the building of electrical power stations around Ireland!