Renowned sean-nós singer Orla Ní Fhinneadha is deliver a series of workshops on the University of Galway campus this autumn and spring – beginning on Thursday, October 16, at 6pm.

It’s part of her new rule as the 2025-2026 Sean-Nós Singer-in-Residence at University of Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies. The workshops are free and open to the public.

Current holder of the prestigious competition Corn na mBán, Orla has been singing since she began attending sean-nós classes at primary school with Máire Pheitir Uí Dhroighneáin, who had a huge influence on her development as a singer, as did Orla’s own father Jimi Ó Fhinneadha. From An Chloich Mhór, Baile na hAbhann, Orla has many singing titles to her name, including coming third in the prestigious Corn Uí Riada at the Oireachtas in 2016.

As a teenager she won several titles at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, as well as at the Oireachtas when she won the Under-35 category in 2012 and second place in Corn na mBán in 2014.

Her expertise and teaching skills also came to the fore in a series of videos created for Cúla 4 ar Scoil during Covid. These videos, in which she presented and taught sean-nós songs, continue to be watched and learned from by children today.

Pictured: Orla Ní Fhinneadha, who has been appointed 2025-2026 Sean-Nós Singer-in-Residence at University of Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies. Photo: Seán Ó Mainnín.