Claddagh
Claddagh are a Christchurch-based Celtic Group who toured New Zealand in the 1990's. Winners of the Folk & Acoustic Music category of the New Zealand Music Awards (now known as the Best Folk Artist Tui) in 1992 for their album 'Continental Drift', they are reuniting to perform at the 2026 Canterbury Folk Festival.
These multi-instrumentalists are:
Davy Stuart on Cittern, Fiddle & Guitar
Barrie McDonald on Accordion & Mandolin
Mike Considine on Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki & Bodhran
The lads are delighted to have been invited to perform at this 'milestone' Festival and are excited to recreate the 'Claddagh Sound'.
More about Davy Stuart:
Davy Stuart is an experienced traditional Celtic luthier and musician. Hailing from Edinburgh, he began making instruments as a teenager, alongside playing fiddle and bouzouki. His professional life has included extensive involvement in the Folk Revival, including touring Europe with the band Alba and performing with Crannachan. His musical journey eventually led him to Aotearoa as a member of the band Rua, where his work with Claddagh was recognised with multiple NZ Folk Album of the Year Awards, highlighting his long and successful history as a key figure in the Celtic music scene.
http://www.stuart.co.nz/pagex.asp?bioid=4222
More about Barrie McDonald:
Over his musical lifetime (so far) he has been a member of various groups playing Bluegrass, Country Rock, Bush Bands, Scottish Country Dance and Irish Traditional. In Invercargill in the early 80’s, apart from being a Founding Member of the Foveaux Folk Club, he could be found in the ‘Orchestra Pit’ playing for light Operatic Shows. For some years Barrie played for the NZ Irish Traditional Dancing Championships.
Years of shiftwork made it difficult to be part of a group. However, he was part of ‘Claddagh’ with
Davy Stuart & Mike Considine winning the NZ Music Award for their Album ‘Continental Drift’.
More on Mike Consedine:
Mike is an accomplished bouzouki, guitar and bodhran player. His passion is in the Irish traditions with a strong fondness for fado, jazz, new Irish artists and a wider circle of world music.