Kildare artist receives traditonal arts award

A KILDARE artist recently received the Deis Recording and Publication Award, which supports traditional arts recording projects.

Kildare artist Ciarán Fitzgerald is one of fifteen successful applicants to receive up to €10,000 for a traditional arts recording project.

The Deis Recording and Publication Award supports standalone traditional arts recording projects, as well as collaborative recording projects between the traditional arts and other artforms. These recording projects are vital to the preservation and transmission of traditional oral artforms, which often face unique archival challenges and can struggle to reach general audiences.

The award also prioritises projects which centre on the publication of work such as tutors, tune collections and critical writing. This further benefits the traditional arts community by expanding the resources available to artists of all levels.

Ciarán is the composer, musical director, and conductor of The Misneach Orchestra. They launched their debut album, recorded in the renowned Windmill Lane Studios, with a sold-out National Concert Hall performance. They have performed all over Ireland, with 2026 performances in The National Opera House, Wexford, and in Galway City.

A pharmacist from Kildare, he is a multi-instrumentalist and fourteen-time All-Ireland Fleadh champion. He is a member of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and regularly tutors at festivals including Scoil Éigse and Meitheal.

In 2024, Ciarán represented Ireland as lead delegate on Japan’s Ship for World Youth programme. He toured Ireland and the UK as part of the Comhaltas Tour, and recently was assistant musical director and performed as part of the new “Cairdeas” Irish tour.