Paddy Callaghan is a multi-instrumentalist from Glasgow, Scotland. In common with many from the West of Scotland, Paddy has family origins in Ireland- the Tyrone/Derry & Donegal regions in particular. Graduating from his musical education with St. Roch's Ceili Band and the Irish Minstrels Branch of Comhaltas under the legendary Frank McArdle, Paddy has gone on to take his unique musical style worldwide.
Initially Paddy started on the tin-whistle but before long had progressed to the Button Accordion. A few years later he started learning the harp and in his teens, took up the concertina. Although thoroughly accomplished on all these instruments, it is without doubt the Button Accordion to which Paddy is a master.
With his energetic style and effortless delivery of complex melodies Paddy has amassed a fanbase across the globe and is in extremely high demand as a touring musician.
Paddy performs regularly with his own trio - The Paddy Callaghan Trio, he also performs as a solo musician and has various other projects including his Big-Band, DJ'ing Trisco's (Trad Disco's) and also playing in bands alongside other musicians
Awards
BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2013.
Paddy has won countless titles in the past 24 years through Comhaltas Fleadhanna Cheoil, at Regional and Provincial level, and several World titles including winning Senior Grupai Cheoil competition in both 2007 and 2017.
Danny Kyle Open Stage Winner at Celtic Connections Festival 2007 as part of 'Feolta'.
Scot's Trad Music Awards 2013 Nominee for category: Trad Music in the Media for Radio Show Trad with Pad
Scot's Trad Music Awards 2014 Nominee for category: Up And Coming Band of the Year with Dallahan
Scot's Trad Music Awards 2016 Nominee for Category: Album of the Year with Dallahan
Biography
Festivals which Paddy has Performed in
Festivals in Scotland:
Celtic Connections Festival
Stonehaven Folk Festival
Shetland Folk Festival
Orkney Folk Festival
Jura Folk Festival
Moniaive Folk Festival
Perthshire Amber Festival
Royal Highland Show
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Glasgow St. Patrick’s Festival
Heb Celt Fest
Wickerman Festival
Solas Festival
Northern Roots Festival
Eigg Liberation Festival
Brew at the Bog Festival
Merchant City Music Festival
Kelburn Garden Party
World Irish Dancing Championships
Scottish International Whisky Festival
2014 Commonwealth Games
Festivals in The United States of America (USA):
Milwaukee Irish Fest (Wisconsin)
Great American Irish Fest (New York)
North Texas Irish Festival (Texas)
La Crosse Irish Festival (Wisconsin)
Festivals in England:
Hartlepool Folk Festival
Liverpool Irish Festival
Leeds Irish Festival
Trip to Birmingham Trad Festival
Festivals in Ireland:
Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann
Pan Celtic Festival
Armagh Pipers Festival
Aras Aris Festival
Festivals in Other Countries/Territories:
BESTIVAL (Isle of Wight)
Sark Folk Festival (Isle of Sark)
Windross Festival (Germany)
Copenhagen Irish Festival (Denmark)
Fire in the Mountain Festival (Wales)
EIRE la Celtic Festival (Italy)
Geiteberg Folk Festival (Norway)
Tours which Paddy has Performed in
TMSA Young Trad Tour 2013
(Scotland)
TMSA Young Trad Tour 2014
(Scotland)
Danish Spring Tour 2015
(Denmark)
North American Tour 2015
(Maine, Wisconsin & New York in USA & Ontario Canada)
Highland Blast 2015
(Germany)
Danish Spring Tour 2016
(Denmark)
U.K. Tour 2016
(Scotland, England & Wales)
North American Tour 2016
(New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts & Wisconsin in USA)
National Folk Orchestra of Ireland Tour 2016
(Ireland)
North American Spring Tour 2017
(Texas, New Mexico, Colodado, Utah, Indiana, Oregon & Washington in USA)
North American Autumn Tour 2017
(Maryland, Virginia & Maine in USA)
Young Trad Award Tour 2018
(Germany)
Multiple Broadcasters
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony (Worldwide)
Multiple Broadcasters
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony (Worldwide)
BBC One
Songs of Praise (U.K.)
BBC ALBA
Cèilidh na Bliadhn’ Ùire (Hogmanay live broadcast) (U.K.)
BBC ALBA
Hebridean Celtic Festival
BBC ALBA
BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2013 (U.K)
STV
‘The Hour’ (Scotland)
RTE One
State Centenary Commemoration of the 1916 Rising with the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland (Ireland)
TG4
Gradam Cheoil 2017 (Ireland)