Tempest

Northern Ireland

Described in the Journal of Music as “a thrilling new force in contemporary traditional music — fearless, cinematic, and crackling with raw energy” , Tempest are a powerful ensemble of traditional Irish musicians from Ulster. Featuring an exciting line-up of Brendan Mulholland, Blaithín Mhic Cana, Aaron O’ Hagan and Luke Ward, they have each achieved acclaim in their respective musical careers to date. Formed in 2023, Tempest are already regarded as a vibrant exponent of traditional Irish music and song, while their debut album, released in 2025, has received wide acclaim.
The group is firmly rooted in the heritage, song and music of their native Ulster and take great pride in sharing this with their audience. There is a particular focus on the singing tradition of Blaithín’s native South Armagh and wider Oriel region, while many of the tunes also take their origins from the northern province.
Brendan Mulholland is from Glenavy, on the shores on Lough Neagh, and is widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of the Irish wooden flute. As well as recording an extensive discography over the past two decades, he has also established on online music school where he teaches traditional Irish music to students all over the world.
Bláithín Mhic Cana is a Sean Nós singer and teacher, born and reared at the foot of Slieve Gullion County Armagh.
Mentored in her younger years by the acclaimed Sean Nós singer and researcher Padraigín Ní Uallacháin, Bláithín has a particular interest in the rich singing tradition of her home in South-East Ulster - a region once known as Oriel- and in the revival of these songs through practice, transmission and performance. She is passionate about language and community revival through the traditional arts, and divides her time between teaching, promoting arts and language in the community, and performing. She is also currently studying for an MA in the Traditional Arts and Irish in NUI, Maynooth.

Bláithín has won many awards for her singing, including several national awards at Oireachtas na Samhna and has been involved in many media productions as a singer and presenter for TG4 and the BBC.
In April 2024, Bláithín was awareded the Gradam Cois Life in Dublin for exceptional contribution to the tradition of singing in the Irish language.

Bláithín’s greatest passion is introducing the traditional songs and style of her own region, Oirialla, to a wide audience and in particular, to play a role in their revival and regeneration.

Aaron O’Hagan is a musician, teacher and maker of fine instruments, specialising in uilleann pipes and the traditional wooden flute. Born in Belfast, Aaron’s first introduction to traditional Irish music was through his grandfather James, learning his first notes on the tin whistle and getting a few tunes from him.

Aaron progressed onto the flute and later the pipes, learning from local musician Brendan Mulholland and Belfast piper Patrick O’Hare.

In the pursuit of quality instruments and the right sound, Aaron began to utilise his inherent love for the creative process and was motivated to embark on the journey into reed making and later into pipe and flute making, taking Inspiration from past masters such as Leo Rowsome, The Crowleys, Ruddal & Rose and Prattens. Aaron has taught instrument and reed making workshops at Na Píobairí Uilleann in Dublin and at many festivals around the world. Aaron plays all his own instruments on the debut Tempest album.

In 2021, Aaron released the critically acclaimed ‘From the Devil’s Punchbowl’ with bouzouki player, Luke Ward. Aaron is also a prolific teacher and passes on his knowledge at the award winning Glengormley School of Traditional Music.

Competing the lineup is Cavan’s own Luke Ward who has been a constant on the traditional music circuit since the 2005 release of ‘Clan Ranald’ with accordionist Martin Tourish. Over the past 20 years he has performed all over the world from the Shetland Islands to Las Vegas. After starting his musical career as a fiddle player, he soon transitioned onto guitar, bouzouki and cittern, and is most comfortable acting as the rhythm section in traditional and folk music.
Luke particularly enjoys the recording process and engineered the aforementioned ‘From the Devil’s Punchbowl’ album with O’Hagan. Similarly to his bandmates, Luke places a strong value on teaching traditional music and does this mostly through his online bouzouki school.