Tramore born, educated at Coláiste na Rinne for two years, Mungret College, Limerick for three years, Crescent College for one year and finished my secondary education in Tramore CBS. Spent time at UCG studying Arts. Did a computer programming course at WRTC. A year touring and recording with the band Scullion. Studied music in Cork. Back in Waterford to do the BA in Music at WIT graduating in 1992. PhD from UL. Fulbright Visiting Professor at Boston College, Mass in 2008. President of the Irish Fulbright Alumni Association (2015-2017). As a musician I have visited many countries around the globe, teaching and giving concerts.
I have taught uilleann piping at the Willie Clancy Summer School since 1977. I began teaching at WIT following my graduation and have worked here (with two breaks) since. I have lectured in University of Limerick and UCD. I have been guest lecturer at University of Galway and DKIT and spent a semester as Fulbright Visiting Professor at Boston College in 2008.
My areas of research are largely in Irish music manuscripts of the nineteenth century and mainly those of George Petrie, Henry Hudson, William Forde and John Edward Pigot. These were the source material for my PhD on Galway piper Paddy Conneely (d. 1851). I have also worked on the manuscripts and song translations of Dublin piper Séamus Ennis.
