Jim and Fiona Byrne



Our guests of honour for 2026 festival

Jim and Fiona Byrne are this year’s guests of honour. Originally from Belfast and Ayrshire, they have been living in Ardara for the past 18 years, and have been adopted into the traditional music community in this part of Donegal. Jim is a sought-after guitar player and singer. His rhythmic guitar style provides a strong and colourful backbone for melody players, and he accompanies songs with an insightful and sensitive touch. He has toured and recorded widely in various settings, including with Belfast-based band Craobh Rua, and also with many Donegal instrumentalists. Fiona is a highly regarded singer whose repertoire comes from her native Scotland as well as the Irish tradition. She has sung at festivals and singing sessions throughout the UK and Ireland, and recently featured on TG4's Geantrai series alongside Jim. She now also plays the fiddle, learning from many of the great Donegal players in the area. For several years, Jim and Fiona edited and produced The Living Tradition magazine, a well-respected worldwide traditional music publication. But they are most at home in the traditional music session, and have been found at the heart of many of these in the Ardara area over the years, working hard to make them a welcoming and fun environment where people can join in and feel at home.