Jason McGuinness
Jason McGuinness from Dromore West, Co. Sligo is a secondary school teacher who graduated from Maynooth University having completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, Geography and History, and most recently obtained a Professional Master of Education.
Jason was the first Sligo fiddler since 1970 to win the Fiddler of Dooney competition in 2016 and was also a recent winner of the Ed Reavy International Senior Fiddler title. He has performed on a number of Comhaltas tours, including Ireland, Britain, and Canada in 2011-2012.
In 2020 Jason completed the Comhaltas TTCT teaching diploma course. He has won many music awards in county, provincial and All-Ireland fleadheanna most recently winning the All-Ireland senior Fiddle Fleadhfest in 2021, All Ireland Senior Slow Airs titles in 2019 and U18, All-Ireland Senior Drums title in 2015, U18 senior duet in 2019, (with his brother Damien on Button Accordion) as well as senior grúpa cheoil in 2019 and All-Ireland Ceili Band U18 céilí band title. He is a previous winner of Siansa Gael Linn with his group ‘Teaspach’.
From a young age, Jason showed a keen interest in researching and collecting recordings and archival material of Irish Traditional musicians. He has a passion for the Sligo style and has extensive knowledge relating to tunes history and céilí bands throughout the decades. Jason now follows in their footsteps passing on his musical and historical knowledge to younger musicians and is heavily involved with many Comhaltas branches around the country especially Tireragh CCÉ, Sligo and as a music tutor at Maynooth University.
