Exciting and intricate; original yet inspired: Emma Sweeney is an Irish fiddler with flair, grace and integrity which supersedes her young age.

 
Emma was a former finalist at the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2003. Her debut EP, The Other Crossing, released in late 2010, received excellent reviews and airplay, including Mike Harding on BBC Radio 2. This led to her coming second runner up in the 2010 Tradition Award, run by FATEA magazine.

Emma was first introduced to Irish music aged seven, taking tin whistle classes under Sligo's Marian Eagan. The fiddle took over at ten years of age, taught by Colin Farrell and later, Andy Dinan. Emma was also guided by Mike McGoldrick, who encouraged and tutored her in whistle and fiddle.

In 2005, eighteen year old Emma travelled to India to create her own musical adventure. In the midst of Kolkata, she set about starting up a project teaching the tin whistle to 300 street children and orphans from the city's slums.

Emma is also in demand as a teacher and guest musician. She teaches 14 private students of all ages and abilities, runs a children's whistle class and is currently resident fiddle tutor at Manchester's acclaimed live music venue, Band On The Wall.

This summer Emma is delighted to have been invited to do a number of gigs with Cara Dillon and Sam Lakeman as well as some with The Future Trad Collective.

"Emma is one of our finest young fiddlers and her self-released�five track EP of tunes is a real gem" Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

"Emma Sweeney proves herself to be a highly capable composer, and an excellent fiddle player with the confidence to bring her own personality to the traditional tunes" Mary Stokes, Bright Young Folk

"An impressive debut from an impressive performer" Pete Fyfe, Folking.com