ABOUT
DIANE NÍ CHANAINN

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Meet Your Tutor

Forged out of the centuries-old traditions of her native Donegal, Diane Cannon is a singer who brings the songs and the music played by the hearth fire of a long gone Ceilí house, to the sophisticated tastes of a 21st century audience.

  • Diane Cannon is a versatile singer, musician and composer from the Donegal Gaeltacht, internationally recognised for her distinctive interpretations of Irish-language sean-nós song. Rooted in the rich singing traditions of northwest Ireland, her work bridges tradition and contemporary performance through collaborations with leading artists across Ireland and Scotland.
  • Her highly anticipated second album and accompanying bilingual songbook will be released in August 2026. Produced by renowned musician and producer Donal O’Connor, the project features collaborations with Steve Cooney, musicians from the Ulster Orchestra and a host of leading traditional performers. Published by Éabhlóid under the direction of Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde, the accompanying book explores the stories, meanings and cultural heritage behind the songs.
  • Diane recently opened the prestigious Ceòlas Festival in South Uist, performing in the inaugural concert in its new state-of-the-art auditorium alongside Scottish Gaelic singer Mairí MacMillan, piper Leonard Barry and multi-instrumentalist Allan Henderson. She continues to build strong artistic links throughout Scotland, including collaborations with acclaimed piper, singer and composer Ailean MacDonald, exploring the shared traditions of Irish and Scottish Gaelic song.
  • Her acclaimed debut album Idir Mhuir agus Sliabh established her as one of Ireland’s leading traditional singers, while her recent RTÉ Folk Award nomination for Best Traditional Folk Track recognised her recording of Bean an Fhir Ruaidh, filmed at Crolly Distillery with Steve Cooney and Donal O’Connor. Recent releases also include Daily Growing, which received extensive national and international airplay, and Amhrán Pheadar Breathnach, the latest single from her forthcoming album.
  • Alongside her solo career, Diane has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia and North America. She collaborated for three years with internationally renowned Japanese choreographer Akiko Kitamura on Echoes of Calling, performing in both Ireland and Japan while developing new work as a composer and artistic collaborator. Her international performances also include Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours International Festival, Danceperados of Ireland tours throughout Europe and numerous festivals and concert series across Ireland, Scotland and beyond.
  • Recognised for her broad musical knowledge across Irish, Scottish, folk, country and bluegrass traditions, Diane presented a TG4 music series filmed in Nashville, where she recorded with celebrated musicians Joe Spivey and Eddy Dunlop of the legendary Time Jumpers. She is a regular contributor to RTÉ, TG4, BBC and Raidió na Gaeltachta.
  • Beyond performance, Diane is an active cultural producer. She founded IrishSongLessons.com, an online platform teaching Gaelic song to students worldwide, and established DonegalMusicTrails, creating immersive music and heritage experiences in the Donegal Gaeltacht. She also founded an annual Irish-Scottish festival celebrating the shared traditions of piping and song, bringing together leading artists from both countries.
  • In recognition of her contribution to Irish traditional music and contemporary Gaelic culture, Diane was featured in the 2025 Leaving Certificate Irish examination, introducing thousands of students to her work and the living tradition of Irish-language song.