Gradam Ceoil TG4

Bio

Cathal Seán Hayden was born in 1963 in The Rock, Co. Tyrone, near Pomeroy, an area rich in traditional music. Raised in a deeply musical household, he began on tenor banjo before turning to the fiddle, carrying forward a family tradition shared by his father and grandfathers.

In 1980, Cathal recorded his debut solo album, Handed Down, with his close friend and mentor Arty McGlynn. The album reflected the music passed down to him at home and marked the beginning of a remarkable recording career, followed by acclaimed releases including Cathal Hayden, Live in Belfast and Hooked on Banjo.

Cathal first came to wider prominence with Arcady in 1988, before co-founding Four Men and a Dog in 1991. Their landmark debut, Barking Mad, became one of the great Irish traditional albums of its generation and won the Folk Roots award for Best Album.

Over the years, Cathal has performed with many of Ireland’s finest musicians, including Christy Moore, Paddy Keenan, Máirtín O’Connor, Seamie O’Dowd, Dónal Lunny and the Bow Brothers. A master of both fiddle and banjo, he has brought passion, energy and imagination to Irish traditional music on stages across the world.