Donogh Hennessy is a tutor at Belfast Tradfest 2026 summer school, a week dedicated to the best of traditional music and culture, which takes place from 26 July to 2 August. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
The Belfast Tradfest 2026 summer school programme brings together some of the world's most respected artists for masterclasses, workshops, informal sessions, and performances and includes headline concerts from Flook, the Michael McGoldrick Big Band, Solas, and many more.
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Born in Dublin and is now based in Dingle in West Kerry, Donogh is a founding member of Irish super-group Lúnasa and an award-winning guitarist and composer.
He has also performed and recorded with Lumiere, Sharon Shannon, Seamus Begley, Pauline Scanlon, John Spillane, Damien Mullane and The Sibín Orchestra over the years.
Donogh is a full-time recording engineer in his own recording studio in Dingle where he produces, records and performs and he has also recorded music for film and theatre and has written two music books including Lúnasa The Music (1996 -2001).
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm a guitarist, a studio engineer and a great dad.
How would you describe your music?
Hopefully as an honest expression of myself.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Guitar-wise, probably Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, and Steve Cooney.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Leonard Cohen.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Donovan's Greatest Hits.
What’s your favourite song right now?
My favourite one to play atm is The Banks Of The Ohio with Teresa Horgan.
Favourite lyric of all time?
There's so many, but I always liked this one...... "And they sit at the bar and put tips in my jar and say man, what are you doin’ here!?" - Piano Man by Billy Joel.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
God, that's too horrible a concept to contemplate.
Where can people find your music/more
All the usual places I'd imagine. I've played on so many albums over the years, but I don't actually sell any of them so I honestly wouldn't know.
Alan Corr
