About

Meet the Band

Conor Mallon Band comprises the all-star line-up of Paul Starrett; Electric Guitar, Jack Warnock; Acoustic Guitar/ Vocals and Fintan Mulholland; Bodhran/ Whistles. With Lynette Fay of BBC Radio Ulster praising the performance at the NI Music Prize as a “Mesmerising Live Performance”.

Conor Mallon

Conor Mallon from Keady, Co.Armagh started his musical career with the Armagh Pipers Club where he attended Uilleann Pipe lessons. He has progressed through ranks to become one of the senior teachers at the club before touring in a full-time capacity. Conor has been categorised as the one leading pipers in his generation as described by folking.com, “In the week that we learned of the passing of Liam O’Flynn it was apposite to hear Conor Mallon leading the next generation of Uilleann pipe players.”

Conor was the first recipient of the ACNI/BBC NI Young Traditional Musicians Platform award and subsequently was a guest musician with the Ulster Orchestra and with the award winning Foden’s Brass Band. Conor is a Senior County, Ulster and All-Ireland Champion on Uilleann Pipes in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and has won many other awards including the Uilleann Piping Scholarship by the Na Píobairí Uilleann Dublin in 2008 and was the first recipient of the Mark Donnelly Bursary for Uilleann Piping Award in 2010.

Conor has performed at many festivals in Ireland, Europe and North America including the William Kennedy Piping festival, Piping Live, Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Fringe and the Milwaukee Irish Fest and has toured extensively on his own, with his band Connla, Comhaltas and with the prestigious worldwide show, Irish Celtic. He also plays Uilleann Pipes and Whistles in the Irish trad band Connla who are described by Irish Music Magazine as, "A New Musical Powerhouse is among us. It is from Northern Ireland, and it is Connla. Wow!" He has performed on a number of Radio shows, TV programmes for RTE, TG4 and the BBC individually and with various other groups including main band Connla.

Mallon’s “Hugely Impressive” debut solo album has exploded on the folk/traditional scene. The album having mostly his own compositions and arrangements of some old classics, The Irish Times has praised Mallon’s “High-octane production” debut. The debut solo album released in May 2023 has already received international plaudits as it was nominated for a German Critics Award and the Prestigious NI Music Prize shortly after release, and most recently won ‘Album of the Year’ for the Ireland Tonight Music award in Chicago.

Paul Starrett

Electric Guitar
Paul is from Derry City and has been playing the guitar from around the age of 14. In July 2011 he graduated from the University of Ulster with a Bachelors Degree in Music (Bmus). He has been involved in teaching the guitar from a young age, from giving group lessons in the Nerve Centre in the city to private tuition in his home. Paul brings experience from a wide range of styles having played in jazz, rock, blues and other traditional groups.
Paul also enjoys work as a session musician and has played at numerous festivals/events throughout the world including The Fleadh, The Walled City Tattoo, The Olympic Torch and the famous Milwaukee Irish Fest.
Paul holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music (Bmus) from the University of Ulster. Paul has his own guitar school which he runs in Derry and has vast experience built over a number of years involving group lessons or one to one. Paul brings a unique experience from a wide range of styles having played in jazz, rock, blues and other traditional groups. He also teaches for the Dungannon Comhaltas and teaches privately with teaching experience of over 10 years.
Jack Warnock

Guitar / Vocals
Jack Warnock is a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Maghera, Co. Derry.
Throughout his career Jack has performed as a soloist, accompanist, and in groups such as TRODA, Cóiriú and The Doc Flock. He has performed at events, festivals, and venues across the world.
In recent years Jack has been nominated for the prestigious BBC Young Folk Award, won the Senior Accompaniment Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, and received the ‘Young Musician’s Platform’ award from ACNI and BBC NI.
After (what seemed like) endless days spent staring at a screen, Jack would religiously take a walk to watch the light fade in Mid-Ulster. Inspired by his surroundings, dusk would be the start of a new working day as he delved into creative work late into the night. From here Le Solas Faoithine grew.
Unsurprisingly, the album is a masterwork of thought, consideration, and beautiful curation. Recorded and produced by himself and Dónal O’Connor, Le Solas Faoithine features contributions from Toby Shaer, Archie Churchill-Moss, and Conor Mallon, and can comfortably sit alongside any traditional Irish debut release of recent times. A masterclass.
Fintan Mulholland

Bodhran / Whistles
Fintan Mulholland is a multi-instrumentalist from Magherafelt, Co. Derry. Throughout his career Fintan has performed in groups such as Ioscaid, Realta and the Muddlers Club. He is the lead percussionist with the world renowned Irish music and dance show, Celtic Legends. He has performed at events, festivals, and venues across the world. In recent years Fintan has won a number of awards including Siansa Gael Linn Winner and also a BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner with the band Ioscaid.
Fintan teaches a multitude of instruments to all abilities which include: Bodhran, Flute and whistles.