Colm O'Donnell
Musician | Singer
Colm O'Donnell is a talented musician, lilter, music composer, and researcher, born in the parish of Kilmactigue, County Sligo. He currently manages his family farm, which spans the Ox Mountains (Sliabh Gaimh), working as a farmer, forester, shepherd, and sheepdog trainer. Colm's songs resonate with authenticity, with lively flute and whistle playing enriched with delightful individual flourishes from a rich North Connacht tradition.
Colm O'Donnell
His singing style is sweet, tuneful, and full of soul. Like his gentle demeanour and soft-spoken voice, Colm's songs can be described as beautifully understated yet brimming with warmth and emotion. His singing often evokes a tingle in the spine and can even bring goosebumps to listeners. Much like the clear, fresh-water springs of the Ox Mountains in his native Sligo, Colm O'Donnell's music flows pure and natural.
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He holds 30 All-Ireland medals and performs 12 well-known songs in the sean-nós style, showcasing his diverse musical talent in two lilts. Colm plays a wide variety of instruments, including the flute, whistle, fiddle, and saxophone, and is also an established traditional singer. He has achieved a record number of All-Ireland titles and is regarded as one of the greatest traditional singers of our time. Colm has released several successful albums, including a country/folk album featuring original compositions.
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He has toured with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) throughout the world and is a founding member of the lively Irish traditional band "The Border Collies." Long recognized as a singer of rare and immense talent, Colm showcases his unique quality on his new album, *Heart Strings*. The effortless ease with which he sings belies a deep and complex understanding of his art. The text and music are absorbed into a system that has been passed down through generations of singers, interpreted in his own unique style, and performed in a way that is charming, entertaining, and deeply satisfying.
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Familiar songs suddenly take on meanings previously unknown, and songs from various traditions sit comfortably alongside purely traditional material. There is nothing forced in his performances; everything comes together beautifully. Known in traditional Irish music circles and amongst his friends as "the Long Fella," Colm lives in the heart of the Ox Mountains with his family, cherishing every opportunity to roam the hills with his two dogs while also appreciating the beauty and fullness of nature.
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Colm's introduction to music and song came from both sides of his family, who encouraged him and his two brothers to play and sing from an early age. The wheel has come full circle, as Colm is now involving his own family in music—his eldest daughter recently touring with him on a visit to the USA and Canada.
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Having spent years immersed in Irish traditional music, Colm has toured as a musician and singer, and most recently served as a producer and presenter for tour groups within Ireland, Great Britain, and twice to the USA in the past year. He has developed his unique style of music and song, and above all, a natural stage presence that captivates his audience. Listeners seem to enjoy the man behind the music just as much as the music itself.