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Irish musician Mairtin O’Connor and Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Celtic Connections 2026 – Review by Pauline Keightley 

Mairtin O’Connor performed with Julie Fowlis and Scottish Chamber Orchestra playing some powerful and emotive tunes. O’Connor has performed with Boys of the Lough and Riverdance.

We were treated to two celebrated musicians and composers – Mairtin O’Connor and Julie Fowlis both brilliantly backed by the SCO. O’Connor performed his composition The Mighty Ocean: a musical dialogue between mankind and the sea, with his band, Cathal Hayden (fiddle), Seamie O’Dowd (guitar), Matthew Berrill (clarinet), Jimmy Higgins (percussion), Ciara O’Connor (cello), Sinead O’Connor (fiddle).

Glasgow Scotland. 21st January 2026. Glasgow. Máirtín O’Connor, Irish accordionist, performed with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Glasgow concert hall, at Celtic Connections 2026. He played with boys of the lough and Riverdance. Photo Pauline Keightley.

He has composed music for TV and theatrical productions. In 2013 he was commissioned to compose a suite of music for the European Conference on Dolphins and Whales held in Galway. This resulted in “The Mighty Ocean”, a musical dialogue between mankind and the sea. As a studio session musician he’s contributed to many recordings for artists including The Chieftains, The Dubliners, Liam Clancy, Christy Moore, Luka Bloom, Moya Brennan, Mark Knopfler, Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart, Tim & Neil Finn, Tanita Tikaram and many more.

Review and Photos Pauline Keightley – www.pkimage.co.uk

(See also: Review of Julie Fowlis and SCO)

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