Raising funds for the Rathangan Church Roof

Ciara Breen

Ciara Breen is a singer from Wexford, Ireland, currently studying at Trinity Laban

Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London under the tutelage of Mary Wiegold. She began her musical journey at age seven with the Danescastle Music Group, where she sang and played flute, specialising in traditional Irish music. Ciara competed in numerous competitions including Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Scór, and Siansa, in solo singing, ballad group singing, and Grupa Ceoil.

At the same age, Ciara started classical singing training at The Kiltra School of Music with Angela Mahon. She later joined music theory classes and became a member of The Little Sea Musical Society.

In 2022, Ciara continued her studies at The Purcell School for Young Musicians in London, where she expanded her skills in singing, guitar, music theory, and music technology. During her time at Purcell, she was an active member of the Chamber Choir, performing in major concerts such as Holst's The Planets at Queen Elizabeth Hall and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 at Southwark Cathedral with the Purcell Symphony Orchestra, as well as various evensongs and church celebrations. During her first year Ciara was awarded the D'Oyly Carte charitable trust scholar 2023/2024.

In September 2023, Ciara performed Mozart's concert aria "Ch'io mi scordi di te?" accompanied by strings and piano obbligato at St Albans Cathedral. She also featured in a song produced and arranged by a fellow student, which was selected for the Commonwealth Youth Awards held at St James's Palace.

A passionate folk musician, Ciara has begun performing regularly in the folk scene. Over the summer, she was a guest artist at Camden Stewart's concert at St John the Evangelist in London, performed at the Phil Murphy Weekend, and held her first solo concert at Colfer's Pub, joined by Jim Murray, Liam Berry, Caoimhe O'Dwyer, and Alan O'Dwyer.

Christmas 2025 Ciara organised her first short tour around Ireland, Performing at venues in Wexford, Cork and Dublin. She was joined again by Jim Murray on Guitar, Ivan Cherednichenko on cello and Dominic Lucian Drutac on Violin.

Ciara is also a member of the Music for Wexford Youth Committee and received the Betty O'Brein bursary award for 2026. She was also invited by the Chinese government to represent the Irish and Chinese Cultural Exchange Society, where she had the opportunity to perform Irish folk songs at the International Friendship Gala 2026.

Jim Murray

Having finished school, Jim formed his own band at the age of eighteen and performed around the local Irish circuit. Two years later in 1998, Jim began his professional career being invited to tour Japan and Australia with accordion legend Seamus Begley whilst also in the same year, touring America with piano accordion ace Alan Kelly. In 1999 Jim was invited to become guitarist with world renowned Irish musician Sharon Shannon.

To this day, Jim remains Sharon’s “right hand man” having recorded and toured with her over five continents. He also released two critically acclaimed albums with long term partner Seamus Begley in 2001 and 2008 which collectively scooped many prestigious awards such as The Irish Times and Hotpress Traditional Irish Music Album of the Year. Jim also has a wealth of teaching experience having taught masterclasses around the world. Since Jim’s arrival on the world stage, he has gained the respect of both national and international musicians and has performed and recorded with artists such as Sinead O’Connor, Steve Earl, Shane McGowan, Altan and Mary Black to mention but a few.

Jim continues to tour and record with an array of artists while basing himself in West Cork with his wife and family.

Dominic-Lucian Drutac

Born in Chisinau, Moldova, Dominic-Lucian Drutac is a violinist from a musical family. From a young age, Dominic has been a member of the Moldovan National Youth Orchestra, and he has performed in many countries, such as UK, New Zealand, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Malta, Germany, Portugal, and Georgia. In 2020, Dominic decided to continue his studies at The Purcell School and Junior Guildhall in London, England. As of September 2024, Dominic studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a full scholarship under David Takeno's class. Dominic is grateful to have been aided by trusts such as the Albert Cooper Trust and the Arthur Felsenstein Trust.

Some of Dominic's most significant achievements are winning 1st place at the International Violin Competition in Nedeyalka Simeonovna in 2019, being a finalist at the Lutine Prize Competition in both 2023 and 2024, and winning 1st place, in addition to the Virtuosic Prize for Strings, at the New Talent Festival Competition in 2023. In his final year at Junior Guildhall and The Purcell School, Dominic was the concertmaster of the String Ensemble and Symphony Orchestras. More recently, he was part of the Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra 2025 at Tsinandali Festival.

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