Tullamore

Now in their 26th season, a steady slate of performances throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the US
have made Tullamore one of the Heartland's premiere Celtic bands. Fueled by Mary Hanover’s beautiful vocals and inspired dulcimer-play, Rachel Gaither’s stellar vocals and hot fiddling, Michael Coakley’s soaring tenor voice and tasty accordion stylings, and Mark Clavey’s creative savvy and passion for folk and Celtic music, Tullamore’s sound is unmistakable - an American-folk body with a traditional Celtic soul. Their take on Celtic music is rich and clear vocals, tight harmonies and instrumentals, and cool and clever arrangements. Across the country and across the ocean, from arts-centers to pubs, from Irish Festivals to Scottish Highland Games, Tullamore are favorites wherever they go.

Since his childhood, Mark Clavey has performed in diverse, award-winning choral and theatrical ensembles, and in bands playing anything from Classical music to marches to ragtime, swing, and Big Band. Growing up in a musical family, his journey began at the age of nine with a classical study of instrumental and vocal music. A fan of folk music, Mark has played the guitar since his teens, and began dabbling in Celtic music when it won his interests 35+ years ago. Since then, he has been seen on stages from the Sacramento Valley Highland Games to the Great Irish Faire in NYC.

​For three decades, Mary Hanover has touched the hearts of audiences around the country. Her beautiful alto voice, graceful vocal stylings, and warm and personal charm combine to make her a truly enchanting performer. From her late teens, Mary has worked as a solo and ensemble vocalist in classical and traditional venues, while being steadily drawn to Celtic music. She has developed as a tinwhistler under the guidance of Lee Worman. And traditional music has provided her an outlet for her capacity for percussion. Inspired by her friend and mentor, Jem Moore, Mary has found her true instrumental calling in the hammered dulcimer.

She’s as well-rounded as a musician can get. Singer, songwriter, violinist/fiddler, guitarist, teacher, and studio musician... Rachel Gaither does it all. A violinist from the age of 9 and guitarist at 15, she has set herself apart with stellar vocal and instrumental performances – including a pair of performances at Carnegie Hall. Rachel received a degree in violin performance from the University of Nebraska, where she also studied voice and began songwriting. She has appeared with the Hampton Roads Philharmonic Orchestra, and has been featured in Little Country and the Brackish Water Jamboree.

Michael Coakley brings a literal world of experience to Tullamore. With a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the UMKC Conservatory of Music, Michael has turned in several seasons with the Kansas City Chorale and the Kansas City Lyric Opera. He has performed as a choralist and soloist in many of Europe’s cathedrals, including Westminster Abbey, St Giles, York Minster, the Lady Chapel at Ely, and the Duomo in Florence. He began playing accordion as a child, and picked it back up along with his affinity of Celtic music in 2005 when he acquired O’Malley’s of Weston. Michael is also a founding member of Octarium, and appears with Connacht Town.