Dónal O’Connor is a highly regarded fiddle player and acclaimed music and television producer, rooted in a distinguished lineage of Irish traditional musicians and singers. Hailed by The Irish Times as a “fearless musical adventurer,” he has earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading musical voices, known for his versatility, innovation, and deep connection to tradition.Dónal has performed and recorded with many of Ireland’s finest artists, including Liam Ó Maonlaí (Hothouse Flowers), Duke Special, and Scotland’s Karen Matheson (Capercaillie), among others. His creative reach extends beyond performance—he is the founder and artistic director of Belfast TradFest, a vibrant week-long festival of world-class traditional music that welcomed over 45,000 attendees last year.Inspired by his mother, the celebrated traditional singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin, whose repertoire included Irish songs referencing Grecian queens, kings, gods, and goddesses, Dónal formed the cross-cultural ensemble Bright Phoebus. Through this group, he continues to explore and reimagine connections between Irish and Greek musical traditions with curiosity and passion.