The 2026 Tionól will be centered around the Claddagh Cottage Irish Pub in Orlando, FL. Classes will be at the pub or the nearby Grace Covenant Church, and you are welcome to book an accommodation on your own. (see Schedule page for a list of nearby hotels)
Thanks to Vicki and Scott for all they do for Irish Trad!
2026 marks the 24th year of the South East Tionól. A tionól is a music gathering whose focus is to allow students of Irish pipes and fiddle the opportunity to meet in person, take lessons from masters of the instrument, participate (or listen) to sessions, and attend a concert of the instructors. Beginners of the uilleann pipes are always welcome. For fiddle, it is expected that the attendee has some basic level proficiency with the instrument (but it does not have to be Irish music).
Our third piping instructor will be confirmed soon!
Instructors
James Kelly
James Kelly, a native of Ireland, is one of the greatest Irish traditional fiddlers alive today. He learned his music from his father John Kelly, the renowned fiddle and concertina player from County Clare.
After years of careful study and practice, James began his recording and touring career at age sixteen. That year he won first place in the prestigious “Fiddler of the Year” competition and recorded his first album, a duet with his brother John. Since that time, James has toured Europe, the US, Canada and South America, and was a member of several influential Irish groups, including “Patrick Street” and the legendary folk group “Planxty.”
He was a presenter of the “Pure Drop” series for Irish TV and has appeared several times with the Grammy award-winning Irish group, “The Chieftains.” In the US, James has performed several times on Garrison Keillor’s national radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion.” In recent years he received the prestigious “Florida Folk Heritage Award” as well as the “Florida Individual Artist Fellowship in Folk Arts Award.”
James was the TG4 Irish traditional musician of the year, having been awarded the “Gradam Ceoil TG4 2006 Irish Musician of the Year” award in recognition of his outstanding musicianship and contributions to Irish music (TG4 is Ireland’s Irish-language TV station).
He has 18 albums to his credit and recently released his latest recording, “Melodic Journeys.” He is currently working on a teaching DVD for fiddle students, as well as compiling his over 800 compositions for publication. He continues to tour with some of Irish music’s leading accompanists.
Jimmy O'Brien Moran
Jimmy’s interest in the uilleann pipes came from an encounter with the group Planxty in the early 1970s. He remembers that the moment that he became aware of the individual sound of the pipes. The tone, the control and the articulation all combined to create a magical sound, the power of which has never diminished from his mind. He has been teaching the advanced uilleann pipes class at the Willie Clancy Summer School since 1977. His ‘recording career’ began as one of seven contributors to an album of young pipers. This recording, The Pipers’ Rock is now considered a bit of a classic.
As a member of the group Scullion he recorded on the first album and toured Ireland, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Since then, he has released two solo albums and played on many other recordings. A track from his first CD, Dark Lochnagar’ was selected by the actor Ewen McGregor, as his all-time favourite piece of music, on an BBC radio program ‘Desert Island Discs’ a number of years ago.
Dr. O’Brien Moran teaches part-time at Waterford Institute of Technology and has taught in several third level institutions around Ireland, including UCD and the University of Limerick where he completed his Ph.D. He spent five months at Boston College in 2008 as a Fulbright Visiting Professor and made a close study of the Hudson music manuscripts there. Upon his return to Ireland, he joined the board of the Irish Fulbright Alumni Association and served as President of the IFAA from 2015 to 2017.
As a performer he has played around Mainland Ireland, Europe (France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland), Japan, as well as Australia and New Zealand and of course, the USA and Canada. A few years ago, he was invited to play for St. Patrick’s Day, in the Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean – piping in paradise!
Michael Stribling
Michael Stribling is an uilleann piper living in Tallahassee, Florida and grew up in a family filled with Irish music influences. His teachers included Jerry O’Sullivan and Mickey Dunne.
Michael quickly rose to be a fine uilleann piper and relates closely to the old style piping of Patsy Tuoey. Michael placed 1st in the 2010 All Ireland Uilleann Piping competition in Cavan.
When not competing in Iron Man triathlons, he can be seen and heard playing with his siblings in the band, Killavil, as well as with the group Full Set as they tour the United States.
Michael can be heard on the album “The Rolling Wave, A New generation of Uilleann Pipers”, produced by NPU. He will be a returning teacher to the South East Tionól!
Stacia Lewis
Stacia Lewis, an uilleann piper living in Orlando, Florida, has dedicated over two decades to the instrument. She has been a reed maker/adjuster and pipes maintenancer for just as long. From harvesting cane for reeds in Florida to helping people get just the “right” blowpipe fit , she’ll find that elusive leak that’s been buggin’ you and direct you how to take care of it.
A great problem-solver, she is an invaluable asset to the southeast piping community and will be helping folks over the Tionól weekend. Her main piping influences include such players as Eamonn Dillon, Seán Potts, and Seán McKiernan.
Gary White
Gary has been playing the whistle and pipes for 20+ years, ever since first hearing pipes in a pub after an Irish Dance competition. A long time Feis Dad, he's also been making reeds almost as long as playing the pipes.
Gary's piping has been influenced by the teaching and playing of Kieran O'Hare, Cillian Vallely, Brian McNamara, Mick O’Brien, Michael Cooney, and David Power. Gary will be helping with pipes maintenance and beginning piping classes at the 2025 South East Tionól.