Unique Experiences

ABOUT THE BAND:

Middlebury duo O’hAnleigh draw on their ancestral roots and diverse musical talent to entertain audiences with the lively and haunting rhythms of Irish America. Since 200, their dynamic multi-instrumental performances feature rich, fluid harmonies and an enormous playlist of classic ballads, rousing pub tunes, and original songs and tunes that have garnered noteworthy praise from fans and music critics the world over.  O’hAnleigh’s performances pack in an impressive number of songs interspersed with bits of story and poetry that make our audiences laugh, cry, dance, and can’t stop clapping their hands and tapping their feet. 

WHERE WE COME FROM:

Tom Hanley, is second-generation Irishman descended of immigrants from Counties Laois and Roscommon, performed with bar rock bands since the early 1970's.  Cindy Hill’s ancestors hail from Counties Tyrone and Limerick.  Her musical credentials range from school orchestra and chorus to a succession of party rock bands, and her interest in traditional Celtic music sprang from her long political activism in the Irish independence movement.  Cindy brings a knowledge of Celtic mythology and legends to the band along with her multi-instrumental talents.

From classic Gaelic ballads to rollicking pub songs, Irish-American ‘tin pan alley’ tunes to traditional dance sets, songs of rebellion to songs of love and loss, O’hAnleigh’s vocal talents  combine to create the unique O’hAnleigh sound.  Their vocal diversity is supported with a dazzling array of instruments including 6 and 12 string guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, bass, fiddle, tenor banjo, penny whistles, harmonica, bowed psaltery, dulcimer, autoharp, bodhrans, bones, spoons, and a whole assortment of other small percussion, much of it hand-made out of odd bits of things found in the garage to get just the right sound for a particular song.

The duo’s playlist numbers in the hundreds, including a hearty dose of rebel tunes and a growing list of original pieces, as Tom and Cindy compose music and lyrics to expand the Irish-American folk genre.  Their performances are noted for the rapid-fire pace of their song list, as well-rehearsed instrument changes and dramatic or humourous pieces of the ‘spoken word’ (Irish poetry) blend one song into the next for a non-stop set of musical energy.