About Dennis Cahill

Dennis Cahill was born in Chicago to immigrant parents from County Kerry, Ireland. Displaying a keen interest in music from childhood, he began studying guitar at age nine. He subsequently studied at Chicago Music College, training under Howard Levy, Manuel Lopez Ramos, Steve Klein, and Robert Becker. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Cahill developed into one of the most respected and innovative guitar players in the world of traditional Irish music. Not just content with accompanying tunes, he has developed a unique approach to playing traditional and neo-traditional Irish music, incorporating the ornaments and subtleties used by the various instruments utilized within the Irish music genre. In the early 90s, Cahill teamed up with traditional fiddle player Martin Hayes, with whom he has continued to work and tour to this day. Cahill has performed and recorded with many acclaimed Irish traditional music practitioners (including Kevin Burke, Liz Carroll, Seamus Egan, P.J. Hayes, Eileen Ivers, Arty McGlynn, Iarla Ó Lionáird, and Liam O’Flynn), and has appeared in concert halls and festivals throughout the USA, Europe, China, and Australia.