The WT Folk & Ceilidh Band

Mick O'Connor: Tenor Banjo, Mandolin, inherited a love of Irish music from his parents are from County Kerry & Roscommon in Ireland. It was the banjo playing of Barney McKenna of "The Dubliners" that inspired Mick to learn the Banjo in 1967. He learned tunes from the great Irish musicians living in London, including John Bowe, Bobby Casey, Tommy McCarthy, and Roger Sherlock, and is particularly influenced by Clare, Galway and Kerry styles of playing.

Mick won the all-Ireland tenor banjo championship in 1971 and two all-Ireland ceili band medals in 1986 and 1987 as a member of "Thatch Ceili Band". He toured the USA & Ireland in 1975 and the UK in 1976 with Jo Burke and Paddy Glakin on a tour organised by the Irish Traditional Music Association "Comhaltas Ceoltori Eirean". He has taught banjo and mandolin in London for the last 14 years. Mick has played in countless concerts and ceili's over the years, and toured in the U.S.A, Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Ireland and elsewhere.

He has recorded with some of the greats of Irish music including Tommy Makem, Kevin Burke, Brendon Shine, Donal Lunny and Noel Murphy. In 1992 Mick backed Elvis Costello on stage and he performed with Ronnie Drew of "The Dubliners" in 1998. Mick joined Wraggle Taggle in 1997

 

Barbara Hackett: Accordion, came from a musical family and started playing with ceili bands at the age of 9. Her father was a prominent member of the Irish Traditional Music Association "Comhaltas Ceoltori Eirean" and Barbara became secretary of the Luton Harp branch. She studied and played with Brendon Mulkere and played in traditional bands from the age of 14, including John Whelan's "The Liffey Banks". Barbara won the all-Ireland accordion championship in 1974, She joined Wraggle Taggle in 1998.

 

Mick Bailey: Guitar, Vocals, is the founder and lynch-pin of the band which he put together following many successful years organising sessions and gigs in and around his home in North London. He carefully selected the band members for outstanding talent on their individual instruments and as a bunch of good friends. Born in Yorkshire in 1954, Mick trained as a classical pianist and taught himself the guitar. He was always interested in folk music and helped run Knebworth Folk Club in Hertfordshire when he was just a teenager. He was turned on to Irish music during the seventies "revival" by groundbreaking bands such as Planxty, The Bothy Band, and The Chieftains. Mick has worked in a variety of musical areas, composing and arranging for theatre as well as jazz, rock and folk groups. Previous projects include "The Tollpuddle Players", "Take Two", "Yellow Bell" and "Northern Celts".

 

Bernard Chalk: Specialist English and American Barn Dance Caller is very experienced at teaching all levels and styles of barn dancing. He has taught dancing at Cecil Sharpe House the headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society and regularly tours the United States. Bernard is equally at home teaching absolute beginners or leading the most experienced dancers. Bernard has worked with Mick Bailey of Wraggle Taggle since long before the band was formed.

 

Máire Clerkin: Specialist Irish Céili Caller Máire is well known and in frequent demand at a variety of events including folk festivals, concerts, symposiums, dance extravaganzas, weddings and wakes. Born in London of Irish parents, she is a key figure on the folk and Irish scene as a choreographer and dance leader. Máire co-founded The Hairy Marys company in the 1980s producing The Rose of Tralee, No Snakes Please, We're Irish and Helicopters with Brogues. Among her array of extraordinary engagements, Máire has called a Céili and performed Irish Dance at Sting's house and called a Mammoth Céili Night at Greenwich Naval College on New Year's Eve. She also presided over the biggest Céili ever at the Royal Festival Hall with her dance company KICK (formerly Clerkinworks).
   Many people will have seen Máire's handiwork on TV with the award winning Harp Lager commercial which spoofed Riverdance. Máire has been the recipient of numerous Arts Council and London Arts Board fundings. Her innovative, theatrical treatment of Irish Dance fused with physical theatre has earned her many plaudits. She has composed and presented dance creations for BBC TV for schools and been commissioned by the Royal Opera House and Lewisham Theatre to stage Granuaile in 1996.
   As artistic director of KICK Irish Dance Theatre Company, Máire's output included Fennels, Flannels, Funnels with John Hegley, Big Sister with Stéafán Hannigan plus collaborations with Gino Lupari, Ron Kavana, Peter Sheridan, DV8, The Pogues, Sin É, Beyond the Pale and Wraggle Taggle . Last year she assisted Jean Butler and Colin Dunne with the choreography for their show Dancing on Dangerous Ground.
   Máire staged Cinder Reilly at the Jazz Café and the Forum. Her company performed at the Hippodrome with Café Orchestra for Andrew Lloyd Webber's after premiere party of The Beautiful Game. In 1998, she wrote, choreographed and directed Centenary Knees Up for the Purcell Room and Spitalfields Opera House. Her Malice in Wonderland received great acclaim following Arts Council backing in 1999.
   In 2000 and 2001, the South Bank invited Máire to be the host / compere of their Blazing and Summer on the South Bank festivals of music and dance. She did this in between a hectic schedule of leading dance workshops in Norway and Ireland and camping with Weekend Arts College young people with disabilities.
   In recent years, Máire has established herself as an international teacher and performer in the UK, Ireland and Europe. She will lead céili dance workshops in Copenhagen, Oslo and Zurich over the coming months.
   She led the Irish Dance course in the Feet First Festival at Cecil Sharp House last summer and has taught at Greenwich Dance Agency, The Place, Pineapple Studios and the London Irish Centre. She currently teaches dance to adults of all levels, ages and abilities and views it as an extension to her hugely enjoyable Céili calling activities. Maire joined Wraggle Taggle in 2001.

 

"Wonderful performance"

"Many thanks for your wonderful performance at Sally and Martin's wedding on the 16th June. You helped make the day perfect. You chose the dances just right.  Even the granny's got up and danced and those that couldn't dance enjoyed the music. We know as we have heard from our guest's how much they enjoyed the music. We will certainly be prepared  to recommend you to any one else who needs a band for traditional music and dance - -just ask." Mary Bowles June 2001
 

 

"Fantastic!"