Background information on the Principal Players/Founders

founder of the Shamrock Ceili Band, was born in 1946. As a teenager he took up music as a hobby, studying 5-string banjo and guitar on his own, without benefit of a formal musical education. Michael has a fine mellow bass-baritone voice, and he found his natural musical expression in the rich repertoire of Irish and Scottish balladry. His first public performance took place in August 1965 at O'Donaghue's Pub in Dublin, Eire; then the Mecca of upcoming folk musicians. There Michael was influenced by such groups as the Dubliners and the McKenna Folk, as well as by the already well-established quartet of the Clancy Brothers (Pat, Tom, and Liam) and Tommy Makem.

Since settling in Israel, Michael has been a member of various choral groups ranging from the classical to the popular, but his true love remains with the music he grew up on. Paradoxically, he began playing the bodhrán only after setting in Israel. Michael acts as general manager, musical director, assistant librarian, booking agent, and is responsible for public relations for the Shamrock Ceili Band (which includes the job of promotional graphic artist), in addition to being lead vocalist and accompanist. The instruments now played by Michael (sometimes during a single performance!) include 5-string banjo, 12-string guitar, bodhrán, snare drum and various hand-held percussion instruments (e.g., spoons, bones, triangles and others).

born in Tel-Aviv and educated in New York, studied at the Hebrew Arts School for Music and Dance, specializing in early (Mediaeval, Renaissance and Baroque) music. Her collection of ancient woodwinds was expanded by the inclusion of the tin-whistles, which she has played since joining the Shamrock Ceili Band in October 1991. She married the "boss" shortly afterwards (in June 1992), and in March 1993, she gave birth to their first daughter, Siobhan Vered. A second daughter, Eireann Avigal, was born on 7 November 1995.

Their marriage, seems to me, is over since autumn 1999, and Dvira doesn't play with us any more. Nevertheless, we owe her much and are most thankful for her former participation.

As noted in our Prospectus, the Shamrock Ceili Band is a semi-professional group. Michael's main occupation is carpentry.